Victim in race crash was driver's cousin

By: ABC57 Staff

Posted: Mar 18, 2013 9:21 PM EDT | Updated: Nov 5, 2014 8:27 PM EDT

YUBA COUNTY, Calif. — A steering wheel is to blame for a crash in California this weekend.

Two people died after 17-year-old driver Chase Johnson crashed into a race-wall at about 90 miles per hour.

One of the victims in the crash was the driver's cousin.

The victim's father says he saw the steering wheel come off the car moments before impact.

"Every time he got into the car and every race, we'd check and check and check, and I don't know how it could come off, because he always double-checked it just to make sure, and I don't know how it could come off," said the victim's father.

Chase was hoping to one day race professionally.

After the crash that killed his cousin, he is not sure he will ever race again.