Speed led to crash that killed 2 teens, police say

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Family and friends are mourning after a crash killed two teenagers.

The crash happened at the intersection of Kenvilla Drive and Lawrenceville Highway around 6:45 p.m. Sunday.

According to police, there were four teenagers in one car and Kiara Oliver, 37, of Norcross in an SUV.

Police said teenage driver Sani Velani, 16, was speeding down Lawrenceville Highway. When the SUV tried to turn, the vehicles collided, killing Velani and passenger Afaan Asif, 15.

Oliver, who was driving the SUV, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center with injuries.

Passenger Taha Muhammed, 15, of Tucker was a passenger in the car. He was also taken to Atlanta Medical Center with injuries. Passenger Rutesh Kakadiya, 16, of Lilburn was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville.

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Police told Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes the Parkview High School student was speeding, and that's what caused the crash.

Nearly a dozen friends met Fernandes at the crash site to tell her all about Velani.

Some of the girls couldn't handle the situation, and they stayed back, crying.

They said the two teenagers who died at the intersection will be missed by hundreds of students at Parkview High School.

Close friends of Velani and Asif are devastated by the news of their deaths.

"He was fun to be around," Charan Ranachandran said. "He was a happy guy, always smiling."

Velani's friends say his death is perplexing.

"He's a good driver, I always felt safe when he was driving," Ranachandran said.

Anju Rani has known Asif's family since he was a little boy.

“Afaan is an angel, he was such a sweet child,” Rani said. “I remember him from the time he was 2 years old … and he's just like my son. And he was very good at studies, he was a well mannered and disciplined child."

Witnesses told police Velani was weaving in and out of traffic before the crash.

Cox Media Group