TWO young men have died in a horrific fiery high-speed traffic crash on Riverside Drive, just east of the city early today.

The pair were travelling east in their vehicle, believed to be a VE Holden Commodore, about 1am when it left the road and slammed into a large palm tree in the centre median strip and caught fire.

The car was split in two lengthwise on impact and parts of it were strewn along the road.

Police have identified the driver as Tom Dymond, a 20-year-old from Muresk and the passenger as 19-year-old Shaun Payne from nearby Northam, 97km east of Perth.

The driver was incinerated in his seat while the passenger was thrown from the car and died at the scene.

Police Major crash squad is investigating the crash, which happened near the intersection of Plain Street and Riverside Drive.

Senior Constable Allan Mawdesley, from Major Crash, said: “At this stage we’re not sure where they were travelling from, we believe they were staying in Perth.”

“We need to look at a number of things, obviously speed is a factor . . . from the vehicle itself speed would appear to be a major factor.

“It’s a tragedy this close to Christmas.”

Sen. Const Mawdesley said police would be examining CCTV footage and speed cameras in the area to help shed more light on the lead-up to the crash.

Sen. Const Mawdesley confirmed no skid marks were found at the scene.

He urged the public to slow down and take extra care on the roads during Christmas.

“Slow down, take care, there is no need to rush anywhere," he said.

WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan told reporters it was one of the worst crashes he had seen.

``You know that extremely high speed was involved and you suspect that alcohol and/or drugs might have been involved.

``That's still to be confirmed but it's my bet we'll find that in the post-mortem,'' he said.

Mr O'Callaghan said there was no road safety campaign that could stop some people driving ``wilfully dangerously''.

Shire of Northam president Steve Pollard said news that the young men were from the area was “very unfortunate.”

“If they are from Northam it is obviously disappointing for the community in the week before Christmas,” Mr Pollard said.

“The road messages are out there trying to tell everyone to take it easy.

“Its just one of those very unfortunate things that keeps happening throughout the state of Western Australia."

Early this morning the wrecked remains of the car was still at the scene, crushed up against the base of the tree, while the entire side panel lay nearby.

“It’s obviously too early to establish the cause of the crash but speed will be one of the factors considered,” a police spokeswoman said.

“We have experienced investigators from major crash (at the scene) . . . so they are basically trying to determine the cause of the crash.

The police officers who attended the horrific scene will be offered counselling if they need it, the spokeswomen said.

“Officers generally are offered counselling if they believe they need it,” she said.

Riverside Drive was closed for the night and most of the morning from Plain Street to the Causeway.

Just before 9am the road was re-opened to all traffic

Earlier traffic had been diverted via Plain Street and Adelaide Terrace. Motorists were asked to avoid the area and seek an alternative route.

The fatalities bring the year's road toll to 174.

Police are calling for any witnesses to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

Three injured in Esperance crash

THREE people have been seriously injured in a traffic crash near Esperance this afternoon.

Police say the the car they were travelling in rolled over on the South Coast Highway in Dalyup, about 700km south east of Perth at about 12.20pm.

Police and St John Ambulance are at the scene.

Car collides with bus in Padbury

In the northern suburbs a car has collided with a bus at the intersection of Hepburn Avenue and Gibson Avenue, Padbury.

Affected vehicles are currently on Gibson Avenue, just prior to the traffic signals at Hepburn Avenue.