Survivor describes North Bergen crash that killed 2 teens

NORTH BERGEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- A survivor of the accident that killed two teenagers in New Jersey spoke exclusively to Eyewitness News.

From a hospital bed at Jersey City Medical Center, 17-year-old Manuel Sanchez went over the painful details of watching his best friends Noel Herrera and Bryan Rodriguez die right in front him.

"We were trying to go to Bryan's house because I was sleeping over. And then my friend Noel was taking a picture of Bryan and you know I waited for them too. And once we turn our heads we saw a car coming, we didn't know what to do because came out, it went too fast. Came out of nowhere," Manny said.

The car hoped the curb near 26th Street and Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen, across the street from Union City High School, hitting the teens on the sidewalk Saturday night.

16-year-old Herrera and 17-year-old Rodriguez died instantly.

Sanchez suffered a broken leg from the impact of the crash.

"This is what they put on my leg. The bones need to stay in place so that they don't get, how do you say inchado, Swollen. Swollen yeah," Manny said.

23-year-old Eric Patterson is charged with death by auto, speeding and driving with a suspended license.

Police say the suspect's car was caught on multiple surveillance cameras blowing through red lights and going more than 70 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone.

"He's better. He's stable, but emotionally he's not," said Bella Sanchez, Manny's mother.

"I want to say that even though they're not here with me, they are always in my heart. I'm always going to cherish the good moments we had together. The fun times we had. Silly times we had together," Manny said.

Doctors will be taking the screws out of his leg Wednesday so that he can put pressure on his leg and walk again.