“The idea of racing home came up,” said Liam Veazey, 18, who was there swimming separately and overheard the conversation.
No one objected to a race home, including someone who said something along the lines of “yeah, sure, I’m down to race,” Veazey said.
Dallas police on Wednesday night had not yet identified the motorist who was racing Colin when the Cistercian Preparatory School junior died in a fiery crash along East Northwest Highway that also injured three other people.
That person will probably face a felony racing charge. Police said only that he was driving a dark-colored BMW.
Witnesses told police that Colin, who was also driving a BMW, and the other motorist were traveling at extreme speeds. The street race may have started on westbound East Northwest Highway at Abrams Road and would not have lasted long, police said.
“The speeds were tremendous,” Dallas police Sgt. Fred Katani said.
Colin lost control near Shady Brook Lane and crossed the median into oncoming traffic, causing a five-car accident that included a head-on collision with a Volvo about 8:45 p.m., police said. Three people in that car were treated for injuries that weren’t life-threatening.
“When you look at the pictures of the vehicle, it’s a miracle that nobody was seriously injured in that Volvo,” Katani said.
News of Colin’s death spread Wednesday at the Irving boys’ school he attended.
“We are deeply saddened by Colin’s death,” said Father Peter Verhalen, Cistercian’s headmaster, in a prepared statement. “He was loved by classmates and friends. Colin was a member of our swim team and was to receive his Eagle Scout Award next week.
“We are now helping our students and their parents face this loss and strengthen their faith in a heavenly Father who loves Colin and each one of us,” Verhalen said.
Taylor Stone, Colin’s father, also released a written statement.
“We are devastated by the loss of Colin and it goes without saying that he will be greatly missed,” Stone said. “He leaves behind his parents and three sisters, a loving family and many friends.”
It wasn’t until midday Wednesday that Veazey learned that the fatal crash involved the same people he overheard chatting about racing home.
Police said the high school junior was racing at more than 100 mph against another BMW.
Investigators said Stone's car started spinning before it jumped the median and hit four other cars.
Three other people in one of the vehicles, a Volvo, were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
"When you look at the pictures of the vehicle, it's a miracle that nobody was seriously injured in that Volvo," Sgt. Fred Katani said.
Stone was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are looking for the other driver, who fled the scene. The driver would face a charge of second-degree felony racing causing death.
Investigators said before the crash Stone was at a swim meet at the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic community center a few miles away from the scene of the crash.
Stone's family and friends said they were stunned by his death.
"We are devastated by the loss of Colin, and it goes without saying that he will be greatly missed," his father, Taylor, said in statement Wednesday. "He leaves behind his parents and three sisters, a loving family and many friends. We have no other comments at this time, and we ask that you would please give our family space and time to grieve in private."
Father Peter Verhalen, the headmaster of Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving, said Colin Stone's death was a shock.
"I can't understand it," he said. "Colin was beloved. The juniors -- his classmates -- were recalling just this morning his smile."
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