The brief pursuit started around 2:45 when officers responded to Malboro Avenue near Euclid Street and La Palma Avenue, according to the Anaheim Police Department.
Sgt. Matt Sutter said that's when officers saw the suspects taking parts from a car before they took off in a black sedan at a high rate of speed.
The chase came to a deadly end near Brookhurst Street around 3 a.m. when the driver lost control and crashed. Footage from AIR7 showed the mangled vehicle near a pole in an embankment just off the freeway.
In total, there were five people in that car. Three of them died, and the two others injured were in critical and stable condition.
"No other motorists, thankfully, were injured. No other officers were injured. The only people injured were the suspects of this crime," Sutter said.
At one point, all northbound lanes of the freeway were shut down.
The carpool and far left lane were reopened a few hours later, but officials say the rest of the freeway is expected to remain closed through most of the morning.