Over the weekend, the Renton Police Department responded to two separate vehicle collisions, both involving a vehicle fire and fatalities, that occurred within an hour of each other.

“In a span of 45 minutes, five lives were taken too soon and multiple other lives changed forever. Local 864 sends their condolences to everyone affected by these tragic events,” read a statement from the Renton Firefighters IAFF Local 865 union via Twitter.

The first accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. Aug. 5 at the intersection of S.E. Petrovitsky Road and 126th Avenue S.E. When first responders arrived, they found a 2010 Mercedes engulfed in flames.

After the fire was put out, one person inside the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police reported that their investigation determined that the vehicle approached a bend in the road at a high rate of speed before hitting the curb and leaving the roadway. The vehicle reportedly hit a tree before igniting.

The second accident occurred roughly 45 minutes later at the 400 block of Rainier Ave. N. According to police, responders arrived at the scene to find a 2004 Toyota Camry that had been split in half, causing several of the vehicle’s occupants to be ejected out of the car. The front of the vehicle had ignited on fire, according to responders.

Police reported a total of five victims involved in the crash with four being pronounced dead at the scene and one transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

Roads in the area were closed for several hours as police conducted an investigation. It was determined that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and the car slid into a tree, splitting the vehicle and igniting the vehicle on fire.

“Our sympathies go out to all the families, friends and loved ones of these victims,” the Renton Police Department said in a statement on Facebook.