Car breaks apart, 1 dead in Hatfield crash

HATFIELD TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Police believe speed was a factor in a violent crash that left a car in three pieces, the driver dead and a passenger injured overnight in Hatfield Township, Montgomery County.

The crash happened before 1:00 a.m. Monday in the 1600 block of North Broad Street.

Police say 21-year-old Timothy Tan Nguyen, the driver of an Acura coupe, slammed into a utility pole.

Nguyen was killed while his friend and passenger, 22-year-old Andy Kham, injured.

The pieces of the Acura coupe could be scene scattered over the crash scene.

Both Nguyen and Kham were found in the wreckage, police said.

Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kham was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in critical condition.

On Monday afternoon, friends kept a piece of the pole and signed messages to Nguyen, a popular member of local car club "Envious."

Members comforted Nguyen's girlfriend as she broke down at the scene.

"He was the type of person you could call no matter what time it was and he was always there," Cesar Nuesi of Norristown said.

"He had a bright future, a lot of things going for him," Kevin Phanthavong of Hatfield said.

Ngyuen loved cars and was known to be the guy who could fix anything. Hondas were his specialty.

He also loved to drive

Police say an officer in nearby Lansdale borough saw the same car speed by at more than 80 miles per hour just before the crash.

An investigation continues into the crash. Police are awaiting test results to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role in the incident.