1 killed in street racing crash in Upland, authorities say

UPLAND, Calif. (FOX 11) - A driver crashed into a tree Wednesday with such force, the car bent down the middle.

Witnesses said the driver came speeding down Euclid Avenue in Upland when he lost control. David Cutting was sitting at his office desk.

"When I heard the screech of the tires I looked up from my desk and the car was going sideways," Cutting said. "As it was going past my office it was doing probably 85 to 90 miles per hour when it went passed.

Police said the driver of the Chevrolet HHR was street racing going south on Euclid toward 8th Street around 4:30 p.m. Investigators are looking into the possibility the driver was also under the influence.

"We believe there was an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle," Sgt. Marc Simpson, Upland Police Department, said. "We don't know if the driver was drinking or there was just alcohol inside the vehicle."

The car, which landed on its side, trapped the driver who died in the crash. Crews had to cut the car in half with the "jaws of life" to free his body.

A friend of the driver, who didn't want to be identified said, he was passionate about cars.

"He comes over and helps my son build cars," he said. "They all go to car meets."

Other friends of the driver said he liked to street race. A witness to the crash said he was driving just a few cars behind the racers.

"They both started racing down Euclid and they caught the light at 11th and from there they took off," witness, Lee Gill, said. "They were flying doing about 60 to 70 miles per hour it was that car and a black Camero."

Police haven't confirmed the make or model of the other car involved in the race.

Copyright 2016 FOX 11 Los Angeles: Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Be a citizen journalist for FOX 11 and get paid - download the Fresco News App today.