Rising second-year Engineering student Ross Pickering, 19, died in the early morning hours of June 1 after the car he was driving struck a tree near the intersection of Huntington and Wakefield roads near 29 north. Aaron Zentgraf, 20, a rising sophomore at Mary Washington University, also was killed in the crash.
Both boys died at the scene at about 2:40 a.m., police said.
Pickering and Zentgraf both were members of the Charlottesville High School class of 2002.
The two were leaving a party near the crash site, police said.
Wet conditions and "excessive speed," could have contributed to the accident, Albemarle County Corp. Glenn Fink said.
Police also are investigating the possibility that Pickering and Zentgraf may have been under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred, he said. "We suspect that they were both intoxicated," Fink said.
Blood alcohol tests for the two likely will be completed in a few weeks, he said.
Fink said he could not elaborate on the nature of potential future charges.
For now, friends of Zentgraf and Pickering are concentrating on remembering them as they were. Friends and family members have set up an impromptu memorial at the crash site, featuring photos of the boys at school dances and newspaper clippings detailing their athletic accomplishments.
But beyond these shared memories of important events, friends spoke about Pickering and Zentgraf in everyday terms.
Rising second-year College student Gray Huffman, who was one of Pickering's pledge brothers in Chi Phi fraternity described Pickering as engaging, energetic, and "hilarious." "He had a spark," Huffman said.
Charlottesville High School classmate Peter McCutcheon, a rising sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill, said Pickering's high energy level often translated into dedication and perseverance.
"He was always gung-ho and would give the most effort out of everybody," McCutcheon said.
"Even if he was doing something he didn't like, he'd stick it out," he said.
David Zentmyer, who coached Zentgraf in Lacrosse at CHS, said Zentgraf had a similar tenacity both on and off the field.
"He was a great player because of his determination and the heart he showed on the field," Zentmyer said.
"He was much more than a player. He was a super kid -- always watching out for people," he added.
Both Pickering and Zentgraf were active in athletics. Pickering played soccer, indoor and outdoor track and cross country in high school while Zentgraf continued his lacrosse career at Mary Washington.
Both families have made plans to memorialize this aspect of Pickering and Zentgraf's lives by encouraging well-wishers to donate to scholarship funds for athletes.
The Pickering family has established a memorial fund in Ross's name that will award a college scholarship to a senior member of the Charlottesville High School track team and the Zentgraf family has asked that donations be designated for Seminole Lacrosse Scholarships and sent to the Charlottesville chapter of US Lacrosse or Camp Holiday Trails.
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