HOUSTON -- A high school student was killed when the pickup truck he was riding in crashed into a tree in southeast Houston late Sunday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Houston police said Austin William Jones, 18, died when the truck crashed into a tree on Windmill Lakes Boulevard near Windwater Drive at about 11:45 p.m.

Investigators said the driver was speeding and lost control of the vehicle. Surviving passenger Amber Gordon, 17, told police the driver was going 75 to 80 mph. The speed limit is 35 mph.

"These particular kids have frequently come out here to race their truck to go over some humps that are down the road a little bit," Sgt. Pete Casares said.

Jones, a Dobie High School student, died at the scene. Police said he was not wearing a seat belt.

Rachel Offenhauser, a friend of Jones', was among those in mourning Monday at Dobie High School.

"My boyfriend taught him how to play guitar and they would play 'Guitar Hero' for hours," Offenhauser said. "They were best friends."

Driver Matthew Milligan, 20, was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital and is expected to be released sometime Monday. Detectives said Milligan may have been intoxicated.

Milligan will be charged with criminally negligent homicide after his release from the hospital, investigators said.

Passenger Patrick Blake, 21, was transported to Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital and later released. Gordon was not injured.

Former Dobie High School principal Jerry Steer said many teens today have a no-fear attitude that can put them into dangerous situations.

"It's just tragic, anytime you lose a young man or young woman at that age," Steer said. "The young man had the rest of his life ahead of him. I'm sure the other people in the car will feel tragic and the guilt will consume them almost for the rest of their lives."

Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.