A car is believed to have travelled the wrong way down the A1 before a crash that killed three men near Stamford in Lincolnshire, police have said.
Cambridgeshire Police said the three-vehicle crash happened just before 1am on Sunday on the A1 northbound near Wothorpe.
It involved a blue Volkswagen Golf, a black BMW 520D and a red Land Rover Discovery.
The force said in a statement: "It is believed the VW Golf had been travelling the wrong way down the carriageway for unknown reasons."
The driver of the Volkswagen has been named as Craig Hewitt, 34, from Bedford. He died at the scene.
BMW driver Adil Hussain, 25, and his front-seat passenger Mohammed Riyajudin, 39, both from Manchester, also died.
In tribute released through police, the family of Mr Hewitt described him as "a loving father, son, brother and friend to many".
They added: "We'll keep the red flag flying high."
Two other men also received serious injuries and remain in hospital.
Police are appealing for witnesses, dashcam footage or anyone who saw the vehicles in the moments leading up to the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Cambridgeshire Police on 101.
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