Test of driving skills considered possible cause of triple fatal

The California Highway Patrol is investigating whether the driver of a car that crashed on Salmon Falls Road, killing three passengers, was speeding to test his skills behind the wheel.

Speed contributed to the crash, investigators say, and they are trying to determine if racing against the clock -- an act not uncommon on the winding stretch of road -- was a factor.

High-speed driving is common in the area where the crash occurred, authorities said.

"That is always something we will be looking at," CHP spokesman Officer Dan Stark said. "But at this point we have not filed any charges."

There is no indication that the crash was a consequence of a traditional street race, where cars are running side-by-side, officials said. There was no other car involved in the wreck.

"It was a solo vehicle accident," said Stark. "But he had some friends that were driving in cars that came up after the wreck. They are people of interest. One may have witnessed the crash. They came up in separate cars."