CHICAGO -- A 46-year-old man, his son and a third relative on their way home from work to their Ashburn neighborhood residence were among those killed early Wednesday when an allegedly drunken driver collided with the their car on the Southwest Side.

Images: SW Side Crash Video: Driver's Girlfriend Talks Video: Four Fatalities In Overnight Crash

A 20-year-old man, identified as Sir Albert Cole of 6116 S. Richmond St., is suspected to have been driving a Ford Crown Victoria while drunk. Cole was also killed, while a 1-year-old boy, two women and a man in the Ford were critically injured.

About 12:30 a.m., the Crown Victoria collided with a Toyota Camry on West Columbus Avenue between South Kedzie and South Western avenues, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.

Chicago Lawn District police Lt. Gerald Koch said the driver of the Crown Victoria had a blood-alcohol level "almost three times the legal limit." At least one of the cars was believed to be speeding, police and fire authorities said.

Two 28-year-old men -- identified as Otis Jolliff and Theodore Jolliff -- and a 46-year-old man -- identified as Otis Thomas -- in the Camry were killed, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. All three men lived at 8113 S. Sawyer Ave.

Marvin Anderson, a relative of the three men, said they were on their way home from McCormick Place, where they all worked. Englewood native Otis Thomas and his son Otis Jolliff. Theodore Jolliff was Otis Jolliff's cousin.

One of the men in the Camry was ejected, while the other two had to be cut out of the car, Langford said.

"They were three of the best people society could know," Anderson said. "They were just great people and now they are gone."

Another relative of the three men, LaTesha Jolliff, 32, said all three were union workers who set up shows at McCormick Place. They worked and commuted together every day. They apparently left for work about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday for their 4 p.m. shift.

"They all worked at the same place. They worked together for years. They drove together and they came home together." LaTasha Jolliff said. Part of a large but very close family, LaTasha Jolliff said the men had two children each and spent a lot of time together.

The 20-year-old driver of the Crown Victoria was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 2:55 a.m., according to the medical examiner's office.

Diamond Scott, Cole's girlfriend, said she knows it is going to be hard because she lost a friend and a good father.

"Not only was he my boy friend, but he was my best friend," Scott said. "I am just glad that his last days he was with his son."

Four people in the Crown Victoria were hospitalized. The 1-year-old boy was reported to be in good condition. A 23-year-old woman and 23-year-old man were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and were said to be in critical condition. A 21-year-old woman was taken to Christ Medical Center and was reported to be in stable condition, police said. Langford said he did not know if the baby was properly restrained.

At least one of the cars was traveling at a "fairly high rate of speed," according to the police Major Accident Investigation Unit, which said the two cars spun out on the damp road after the collision.

"There is not much left [of the cars]," Langford said. "They are pretty mangled up."

Langford said the crash might have been a head-on collision because the front end of each car was "severely impacted." However, the police Major Accident Investigation Unit said it was not yet known in what direction each car was traveling.

No streets intersect West Columbus for about 1⁄4-mile in each direction from the accident side, which is adjacent to a train yard and parallel to the tracks.

The posted speed limit on the four-lane road is 35 mph, but the avenue is a "high speed area" because there is no cross traffic, according to Langford, who said the road is well lit.

Additional information provided by Sun-Times News Group