MIAMI (WSVN) - Officials released new video of a car exploding at a South Florida gas station, early Sunday morning.
Officials arrived on the scene at the Chevron gas station located near Northwest 27th Avenue and 17th Street, at around 4 a.m.
The two men inside the white BMW that is seen slamming into a gas pump survived, but police said the two occupants inside the SUV that collided with it, moments before, were killed.
“It was total chaos,” said one witness. “The people just panicking.”
Cellphone video also showed the flames after the impact.
Miami Police said the driver of the car was speeding southbound on Northwest 27th Avenue before colliding with a Honda CRV that was making a left-hand turn. The SUV then flipped.
“You clearly see it from the video surveillance that there was a speeding vehicle, in this case the BMW, coming at a high rate of speed,” said Miami Police Officer Rene Pimentel. “However, the Honda CRV did violate his right of way by making a left turn without noticing this oncoming vehicle.”
Officials later identified the driver of the CRV as 38-year-old Eric Barahona, and the passenger as 40-year-old Howard Lara. Barahona was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Lara died at the scene.
“I get home, and I see my little brother crying, and I went and everybody else way crying, and they told me my dad had passed away,” said 17-year-old Isander Lara, Howard Lara’s son. “I want people to know that he was a great guy and that he was an amazing person and an amazing dad.”
The driver of the BMW was identified as 22-year-old Felix Ramos, and his passenger was identified as 22-year-old Xavier Fabian. They were both transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Ramos is expected to survive. There is no word as to whether Ramos will face charges.
Police said they do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in this crash.
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