Miranda Curtis, 37, Ariyana Curtis, 8, and Zyilyan Curtis, 14, killed in collision on U.S. 421 in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina

A preliminary report showed that an SUV was stopped in the northbound lane north of the N.C. 62 exit, Baker said. Two other vehicles, another SUV and a car, hit the first SUV. One of the SUVs and the car went into the median and caught fire.

A 1992 Jeep SUV, driven by Curtis, was going slow because of mechanical problems and was hit from behind by a 2013 Toyota passenger car driven by Courtney Nicole Chrisco, 22, of Olivia.