Two Men Killed in Fiery Car Crash

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  • Two men died in a crash on Milwaukee's South Side. Video by tmj4.com

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MILWAUKEE - Remnants of a deadly south side accident remained Friday, as family and friends mourned the loss of a son and his best friend.

The crash happened on South Howell and East Plainfield around 12:30 a.m.

"When we pulled up, the car was bursting into flames," said Kris Hansen.

He was driving home from a movie Friday when he saw flames spewing out of a pickup truck.

"We were the first ones on the scene. And everybody just got out, anybody and everybody had fire extinguishers. Flames engulfed the car so fast, nobody could do nothing," said Hansen.

Milwaukee Police believe the pickup truck was trying to take a left on to South Howell. That's when a Honda apparently going way over the speed limit slammed into the truck, pushing into a nearby parking lot.

Inside the truck were 22-year-old Thomas Ballman and his 20-year-old best friend. Both were killed.

Richard Horzewski lives next door to Ballman and knows his family.

"Thomas was a wonderful young man," he said.

Horzewski says the crash woke him up. By the time he got to the scene, the truck was in flames and there was nothing anyone could do. He says he is praying for the victims' families.

"Stuff happens to good people sometimes, but this is just devastating," he said.

The people in the other car were taken to the hospital.

"It woke me up," said neighbor Larry Hanke

Hanke watched the crash scene from his bedroom window but wanted to see it firsthand Friday morning.

"That car had to be going at unbelievable rates of speed, it's just unreal," he said.

It's not just unreal, but horrible for family members on this holiday weekend.

"That would just be a horrible way to spend the holiday. My prayers go out to the families involved," said Hansen.