ASHEVILLE — Three people have died in a crash with a milk tanker truck near Asheville on New Year's Day.

State troopers say a Volvo hydroplaned at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and slammed head-on into the tanker, which then dragged the car into an embankment.

All three people in the car died on impact. Investigators were still trying to figure out if speed or slick roads played a role in the crash.

Authorities haven't released names of the people killed. Trooper P.C. Lord said the truck driver suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The tanker was empty at the time of the wreck.