MOREAU, N.Y. -- Police in Saratoga County say driving too fast caused a car accident that killed two teens.

It happened on Route 32 in the Town of Moreau. Police say 17-year-old Matthew Habshi of Gansevoort was driving his two friends: 15-year-old Brianna Diorio also of Gansevoort, and 17-year-old Brandon Nelson of Queensbury. All were students at South Glens Falls High School. Just after noon Wednesday, Habshi's car went off the road, hitting a telephone poll. Habshi and Diorio were killed. Nelson was flown to Albany Medical Center.

News 10's Marie Luby spoke to friends of the teens.

Marie explains from the crash site, "The accident shut down traffic here for hours earlier today. You can see behind me where workers are putting up a new utility pole. That's the spot where the car crashed into the old one."

"She was one of the nicest girls, she was very popular and everything," says 16-year-old James McGowan. It's how he remembers Brianna, seen on the left in a photograph with her best friend. Brianna's friends tell us she and her boyfriend, Brandon, were riding with Matt on their way from Brianna's house to Matt's.

"We believe speed was a factor. They came around a bend that was 30 miles per hour. They lost control and they went off into a ditch, hit a tree, then they hit a telephone poll," says South Glens Falls Assistant Fire Chief Keith Dickinson.

Brandon told rescuers he'd warned Matt to slow down just before the crash. Brianna and Matt were pronounced dead at the scene.

"She always helped me out with things when I was struggling," James says of Brianna. He tells us he was with Brianna the night before the crash, "just hanging out, listening to music and stuff...and that's the last time I saw her."

Brianna's best friend was with her just minutes before the accident. She was too upset to speak on camera.

We're told the Brandon was flown to Albany Medical Center just as a precaution, because he had some minor head injuries. He is expected to make a full recovery.