Detectives say a Ford Territory was travelling on the Princes Highway when it struck the petrol tanker at Albion Park Rail after 2am on Saturday.

Twenty-seven-year-old father Daniel Merrett - also known as Daniel Clulow - died at the scene.

The 25-year-old female driver, believed to be Mr Merrett's sister, and two other passengers - a man and a woman also aged 25 - were rushed to hospital where they remain in a stable condition.

Investigators believe the SUV was being pursued by a silver Toyota Corolla when it smashed into the truck. News Corp Australia has reported shots may have been fired at the SUV too.

Those being pursued had earlier been at a party where a confrontation broke out, according to media reports.

Detectives are now hunting the Toyota's occupants: Andrew Russell, 34, Darren Butler, 27 and 25-year-old Holly Green.

Russell and Butler are wanted on warrants for murder in relation to the incident while Green is wanted on lesser charges.

Family and friends took to social media on Tuesday to share their grief on what would have been Mr Merrett's birthday.

"This ain't right, you should be home with your family," brother Jordyn Clulow wrote on Facebook.

"You're a Soulja (sic), you're my big brother, always there for me when I needed you, even though we had our differences at times we still was brothers."

Police released images of Russell, Butler and Green on Tuesday and asked the public to help locate the trio. They also called for dashcam footage or witnesses to come forward.

Australian Associated Press