Teen passenger dies in Jersey City crash

JERSEY CITY (WABC) -- A violent crash killed a teenager in Jersey City early Saturday morning. The victims' friends walked around the crash scene surrounded by scattered debris and tried to make sense of it all.

A 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse the Union City High School Teens were driving in was split four ways along Route 440 in Jersey City.

18-year-old Josue Romero died. Romero's 17-year-old buddy, Joshua Sanchez was behind the wheel, and survived. He suffered some broken bones, and is in stable condition at the hospital.

"They dropped me off at home, I feel like I could have stopped them," said the victims' friend, Soctrates Gutierrez.

Police say the driver told them another car cut him off, and that he sped up to catch up with the driver, but lost control and hit a tree.

The driver's grandmother told Eyewitness News in Spanish that she was very hurt, saying that the teens have been friends since they were toddlers.

Witnesses say they often see drag racing in the area, including last night, but cannot confirm if the victim's car was involved.

"They get together around Dunkin Donuts and they do race here once in a while, "says Francis Abreu.