BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Three Palestinians were killed, and another seriously wounded, in a car crash outside of Jerusalem early Tuesday, Israeli police said.

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Sumri told Ma'an that the accident, on Highway 1 connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, occurred when the driver lost control of the car and crashed into a safety wall on the side of the road.

Ambulances arrived at the scene and pulled the men, said to be in their 30s, from the car.

The victims were residents of Jaffa but had been visiting Bethlehem for Christmas celebrations, Israeli daily Ynet said.

The head of Israeli traffic police suspects drunken driving was a factor in the accident, with severe weather conditions also playing a major role, Ynet reported.