A third car was involved in the wreck at about 6:30 a.m. CST when the van was knocked into opposing traffic, said police Sgt. Vince Higgins.
The people killed in the crash all were in the van, which ended up in a ditch on fire.
Higgins said six victims were taken to area hospitals where they were listed in critical condition. Three other people also were hurt, but less seriously, police said.
The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 61 on the southern edge of the city. In Memphis, the highway is called South Third Street. The highway is a major route from Memphis to the riverboat casino complex in Tunica County, Miss.
Higgins said the cause of the crash was not immediately known, but a preliminary investigation indicated a car headed north veered into opposing traffic and hit the van which was headed south.
The names of the victims were not released.
By afternoon, investigators still were at the scene of the crash and police were continuing to interview witnesses and survivors.
``One of the people in the van was ejected and died immediately upon impact with the roadway and the other two were trapped in the van,'' Higgins said.
