Three people were killed Tuesday in a crash that closed U.S. Highway 26 in Clatsop County for about five hours.

Officials say that shortly before noon, severe weather caused a large tree to fall onto an eastbound vehicle about 6 miles east of the state Highway 53 junction.

The driver, 19-year-old Justin Nolazco Pedraza, of Seaside, and his passengers, Bonifacio Nolazco-Pineda, 41, of Seaside, and a 4-year-old girl died before emergency crews arrived.

The investigation was hindered by the weather, fallen tree and safety concerns, officials said.

The highway reopened Tuesday evening.

The Oregon State Police initially described the family name as Nolasco in a statement about the crash, but family and friends confirmed it as Nolazco.