Authorities are investigating a vehicle fire Thursday in Keizer that could be connected to an incident involving family and friends of three young women who died in a car crash earlier this month.

Salem and Keizer police responded to an argument Wednesday evening at the memorial — set up by family members to remember the victims of a crash on June 2, 2019 — at Salem Parkway and Cherry Ave NE.

About 10:30 p.m. Salem police got several calls about a man at the memorial who was picking up items. Family members and others associated with the crash victims noticed him and went to the memorial, according to Lt. Bob Trump with Keizer Police Department.

The man told the family he was there to “clean up” and throw the items away, which they "strongly objected to," Trump said.

Authorities told the man he had no "lawful responsibility" to get rid of the memorial items and police were able to break up the argument. The memorial is on property owned by an auto dealership.

About 1:25 a.m., Keizer Police received reports a red 2008 Ford Explorer that was on fire in a driveway in the 4700 block of 18th Ave NE. It is owned by the man at the memorial.

Keizer Police detectives believe the fire was intentionally set and is likely related to the argument from Wednesday evening. Trump would not say how the two are connected.

"Based on information and leads, we believe that they're related," he said.

At this time, it is not believed the car fire victim, and those associated with the crash victims, know each other.

Virginia Barreda is the Breaking News Reporter with the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.