Locals described the scene as ‘confronting’.

Three people have died and two others are fighting for life in hospital following a car crash.

Emergency services were first notified of a crash involving a Toyota sedan and a truck at the intersection of Warren Rd and Lucky Hit Rd in Birdwood, Adelaide Hills, about 1.40pm on Tuesday.

Three passengers in the Toyota died at the scene, marking the 23rd, 24th and 26th deaths on the state’s roads this year.

A fourth passenger was seriously injured while the driver sustained life-threatening injuries.

Both had to be freed from the wreckage before being airlifted to hospital.

The truck driver was not injured and is aiding police investigations.

Footage from the scene shows the crash forced the sedan off the road, with tyre marks stretching across the intersection.

Multiple roads in the area were shut by police for several hours as major crash investigators were sent to the scene.

Local resident and former Country Fire Service captain Michael Bell said the intersection had a history of accidents.

“The scene is fairly confronting,” he told ABC.

“My heart goes out to that family … There’s a lot of people going to be hurt tonight.”