Two teenage drivers who crashed their cars on Sugarloaf Parkway Sunday evening, killing the 16-year-old passenger in one of the cars, may face charges of vehicular homicide.

The question is whether the two teens had been speeding, and racing each other.

"There were witnesses that, of course, had mentioned that it appeared that the vehicles were traveling at a high rate of speed," said Cpl. Illeana Spellman of the Gwinnett County Police Department. "I want to emphasize that we don't have any indication right now that the vehicles were racing. Actually, we don't know that. And that's one lead that the investigator will be looking into."

The passenger who was killed was Zohaib Somani, 16, of Lawrenceville, a junior at Peachtree Ridge High School.

Somani was riding in a car driven by Sohel Sultan Ismail, 18. Ismail is a senior at Collins Hill High School, according to the Gwinnett County School Superintendent's Office.

Ismail was driving east, on Sugarloaf Parkway, away from Highway 316 and toward Old Norcross Road. He was driving right behind a car driven by a Peachtree Ridge High School student, Akbar A. Byayani, 17.

Police said Byayani swerved to avoid a car that was pulling onto Sugarloaf Parkway. Byayani clipped that car.

"Just a second after that collision, [Ismail] swerved into the opposite lanes of travel in an attempt to avoid the collision," according to Gwinnett County Police. Ismail struck another car head-on, and Somani, sitting next to Ismail, was killed. Ismail was, as of Monday afternoon, in serious condition at Gwinnett Medical Center.

Byayani and all the others involved were not seriously injured -- Loi V. Tran, 44, of Milledgeville, GA, who was driving the car Byayani struck; his passenger, Choi Nguyen, 61, of Lawrenceville, GA; and the driver of the car Ismail struck, Maria Guadalupe Arguelles, 25, of Kennesaw, GA.

Somani's family and close friends were in seclusion and in prayer throughout the day at the family's home in Lawrenceville.

Somani's classmates at Peachtree Ridge High School were in tears.

"He was just an all-around good kid, you know, did his school work, goofed off in class, you know, just a normal teenager," said Cristina Mendez, 17.

The mood at the school was "very sad" all day, Mendez said, with students seeking comfort in each other and with counselors.

Other classmates, like Corbin Gist, drew "Zohaib," and hearts, in ink, on the backs of their hands, remembering how happy he always was, lifting their spirits.

"Just amazing," Gist said. "He sat next to me . he'd always cheer me up and he'd always be there for me, and even if, like, you didn't really know him he was still nice to you.. I still don't think that he's gone. It's really hard. It's still hitting me."

Nihao Punjani, a 10th grader, said he wished Somani could get a second chance. "I just wish he didn't get into that car, 'cause, everybody, a lot of kids, are crying at school right now. I mean, they closed off the media center for kids to talk about it, and stuff. I mean, it's things like this shouldn't have happened in the first place. I mean, racing's bad and driving's already hard to do for teenagers. And I just feel really bad."

Cpl. Spellman said if the two drivers were speeding, they could each face a misdemeanor charge of vehicular homicide. However, if investigators determine they were also racing, they could each face a felony charge of vehicular homicide.

Peachtree Ridge's principal, Steven Flynt, posted a statement on the school's website:

"The staff and students of Peachtree Ridge High School are coping with the recent loss of one of our students. Zohaib Somani, a junior at Peachtree Ridge, was involved in a car accident that claimed his life late Sunday evening. We are very saddened by this recent tragedy. Any time the school suffers such losses, our students and community come together in support of one another. Peachtree Ridge counselors, as well as our neighboring schools' counselors, have joined together to provide support for all students affected and to help them cope with this tragic event. Our thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with the family and friends touched by this loss, as well as the entire Peachtree Ridge community.