The victims have been named locally as Beckie Nabarro, 23, of Luton and care worker Casey Flissikowski, 18, a former pupil of Barnfield South, along with Stephen Evans, also from Luton, who was a former pupil of Ashcroft High School.
Emergency services were called to Luton Road between Chalton and Toddington at around 11.18pm after a collision between a red Jaguar XS and a silver Vauxhall Corsa.
Two people in the Corsa were pronounced dead at the scene and another female passenger died at Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
A fourth, male passenger aged 19, and the driver of the Jaguar, aged 65, are both being treated for serious injuries at Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
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A Beds Police spokesman said: “A full fatal collision investigation is underway and police are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
“Officers are particularly keen to speak to the driver of an unknown vehicle which was travelling in front of the Corsa.”
Tributes to the three victims have been made on social media.
Becky Sporzio Pink wrote: “I want to cry. Such a devastating loss of such young lives. Families will never be the same. Fly free young ones. Rest in peace.”
Anyone with information can contact Sgt Steph Crichton from the Beds and Herts Roads Policing Unit in confidence on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.