'Best friends till death' as two Florida teens die in fiery car crash

A community in Florida is in mourning following a catastrophic road accident that claimed the lives of two inseparable teenagers.

The victims, identified as 17-year-old Chrystobal Hernandez and 19-year-old Brayan Negrete, died at the scene in Lake County during the early hours of Sunday.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, their 2018 Dodge Challenger was travelling southbound when the driver lost control, careened off the road, and struck multiple trees before bursting into flames.

The tragedy has devastated the families of the two young men, who were reportedly returning from a party.

Chrystobal was a 10th-grade pupil at Southlake High School, and his elder brother, Ramiro Hernandez, described the pair as "best friends" who were constantly by each other's side.

“They would always look out, check on each other, always go out together,” Ramiro explained. “That's why he was with him, he was his riding companion. Best friends till death in this case, I guess."

A vigil was held at the crash site on County Road 565, where mourners placed crosses in memory of the teenagers. Despite the immense grief, Ramiro found a small measure of solace in their final moments together.

“He went out with his best friend. And I just feel like he wasn’t alone in this,” he added. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fatal collision remains ongoing. 

The sudden loss has left the local community reeling as they remember two lives cut tragically short.