Vigil for victims of Northeast Philadelphia crash

BUSTLETON (WPVI) -- "We need to show our young people how dangerous this is," said one father to a somber gathering Saturday night in Northeast Philadelphia.

Family and friends shared hugs and shed tears at the tree where three young lives came to an end Wednesday night.

17-year-old Yvette Gonzalez was remembered by her friends for her cheerfulness and optimism.

"She always had a smile on her face," said Lolita Petrova. "She was always positive about things, even when things are going down. She was always up."

Police say Gonzalez, 17-year-old Sabrina Rhoads of Philadelphia and 20-year-old Felipe Hernandez of Medford, N.J. died after the 2007 Acura they were riding in crashed into a tree on Sandmeyer Lane in Philadelphia's Bustleton section.

Police are looking into whether drag racing may have been involved.

The driver, 20-year-old Christopher Bloomfield of Philadelphia, survived.

His friend, Lolita Petrova, doesn't believe he was racing another car.

"Not them," she said. "I don't believe it. I believe it was an accident."

PHOTOS: High-speed crash in Northeast Philadelphia

Sabrina Rhoads was one of 8 children and heading into her senior year at George Washington High School.

Her uncle, Richard Lee, can't make sense of the mistake that claimed his niece's life.

"I've been in the car like that hundreds of times," he said. "I don't understand it."

Rhoads' family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the funeral costs.