SAN ANTONIO -- According to friends and family, 17-year-old Tony Lopez could have had a bright future.

Richard Lopez didn’t expect he'd have to say goodbye to his son so soon.

"He said he would be right back," the elder Lopez said. "I said, 'Be careful', and he said 'OK.' And he left, and that's the last time we saw him."

According to police, Tony Lopez was behind the wheel of a red Mustang Friday night when it lost control, crossed the median on Military Drive, and slammed sideways into a minivan. Witnesses told police three cars, including Lopez's mustang, were racing.

Lopez died at the scene.

"He was going to graduate June 5," the elder Lopez said, adding that after graduation his son intended to go into the Navy.

Josue Pina, Tony's best friend since childhood, said despite what happened, Tony wasn't the racing type.

"If he did it, it was probably a one-time thing," said Pina. "Personally, I don't know. But he didn't like to race. He didn't like that. He knew the consequences of racing."

Police said after the crash Friday night they arrested one of the alleged racers, another 17-year-old, who returned to the scene. Police are still looking for the driver of the third car who could also face charges.