The crash happened at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday on Arlington Avenue just north of Adams Boulevard.
Officials said the car carrying the victims smashed into a wall. The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, but officials say all three men inside the vehicle may have been drunk.
Police say the right front passenger, identified as a 28-year-old man, was not wearing a seatbelt and went through the windshield. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
The possible driver, a 30-year-old man, suffered critical injuries. A third occupant suffered moderate injuries. Los Angeles police said they need to interview the firefighters who were at the scene to clarify who the driver was.
City News Service contributed to this report.
