ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A heartbroken community is trying to process the news three lives were taken instantly.
The single-car crash happened Tuesday night on Westside Parkway just north of Maxwell Road. Alpharetta police said the driver lost control. The impact flipped the car over, killing three of the five people inside. Everyone involved was just 18-years-old.
"Any time young people lose their lives, it’s absolutely heartbreaking," Shari Kelly said Wednesday, whose husband saw the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Family and friends were too emotional to appear on camera but said they were just trying to support one another.
Anvi Sharma and Sriya Avasarala just finished their freshman year at the University of Georgia; the family adds that Avni was buried on Wednesday. The other teen killed was Aryan Joshi, a senior at Alpharetta High School set to graduate next Thursday.
"It’s definitely terrifying. There’s never a comfortable way to go through something like this," Kelly said.
The two others injured in the crash were Rithwak Somepalli, who police said was driving at the time. Mohammed Liyakath was also in the car.
"You just wonder is it one of my neighbors? There’s always that immediate fear of, 'This is where I walk every day. Am I safe,'" Kelly said.
People in the neighborhood are concerned about the speeding down Westside Parkway. They said as the area grows, so does traffic. A tree down the street shows the impact from another crash Kelly said happened recently. The impact from the deadly crash Tuesday night clearly marked flags, broken glass and tire marks. Friends of the teens came to see what happened Wednesday.
"I don’t know if it’s a widely known problem, but it’s something that I think needs to be addressed and if there was something to control speed around here, it could’ve saved three lives. I would love to see some sort of a change in the lights, maybe to add additional lights, or maybe some sort of like a speed meter that's there permanently. That way as people are driving, they're just more cognizant of the fact that this is a residential area," Kelly said.
Alpharetta police are still investigating the crash, but they believe speed was a factor. It's a tough time for the community with everyone being so close and Alpharetta High School's graduation happening next Thursday. Grief counselors were available at both AHS and UGA on Wednesday.