SAN JOSE — A 20-year-old Fremont woman who unwittingly drove into the middle of a street race on a busy suburban street died Thursday night after one of the speeding cars hit her Volkswagen.

The woman, Alyson Snow, a former San Jose high school cheerleader, was identified by the Santa Clara County coroner's office Friday.

Her family said she graduated from Leland High School in San Jose two years ago, where she had been a cheerleader, and her older brother, Anthony, played football.

Two San Jose men were arrested on vehicular manslaughter and "speed contest" charges stemming from her death. They are Manuel Pourmand, 21, and Joseph Anthony Inocencio, 18. Both were treated at a hospital following the crash and arrested, said police Sgt. Ronnie Lopez.

The drivers are charged with striking Snow's Volkswagen Jetta, which spun into a tree in the center divider, then bounced into the opposite side of Branham Lane about 9:45 p.m., police said.

Shannon George, 35, lives two houses away from the crash, and is a recent nursing school graduate.

"I heard the squealing tires, and a crash, like an explosion," George said. "I threw on a coat and my pajamas and slippers."

Outside, she found Snow and a passenger, who told her his name was Daniel, inside a wrecked blue Jetta. Snow had a slight pulse and took one breath, George said. "But there was nothing I could do for her, I just held her hand."

She said she kept talking

"Unfortunately, this one claimed the life of an innocent victim," Police Lt. Robert Reinhardt said.

He said a brownish gold 2004 Nissan and a black 1997 BMW were believed to have been speeding eastbound on Branham Lane, between Pearl Avenue and Vistapark Drive.

One witness told police that there were "two guys racing on either side" of him and he was going the speed limit, which is posted at 40 mph.

The driver of the Nissan was ahead. But he lost control, Reinhardt said, and slid into the Volkswagen, forcing Snow's car into the center divider. Her car hit a tree and then bounced into oncoming lanes of traffic. The BMW was trailing behind, and hit a dip in the road, Reinhardt said, sliding backward and also striking a tree.

News of Snow's death hit friends and family hard.

"I'm numb," said Grace Chang, 20, Snow's best friend, who received a call from Snow's mother Thursday night.

Snow worked as a bookkeeper and cocktail waitress at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, including at one in the Oakridge mall, said Chang, a Leland High grad who attends UC Davis. Snow had dreams of running her own restaurant some day.

Chang described Snow as small in stature — 5-foot-1 — but who had a big impact on people's lives

"We could finish each other's sentences and know exactly what the other is thinking with just a look," Chang said. "The memories we created together will always be with me wherever I go. I am so privileged that she called me her best friend ... I miss her so much already."

At Leland, Snow was a popular cheerleader.

"She was a typical teenage high school kid," said Patti Young, Leland High's cheer adviser. "She had a great circle of friends, a really tight-knit group. She was a cute bubbly spirited kid with a heart of gold. This is the saddest thing ever."

Sarah Vargas, one of Snow's cousin, said, "Alyson was a fun-loving girl who was close to her family. She will be truly missed and her family is all in shock over the situation."

San Jose has a special Race Enforcement Team whose officers fan out to monitor the city's racing "hot spots," to curb the popular but illegal sport of racing down city streets. It's a problem that plagues cities and towns throughout the country. But Reinhardt said Branham Lane — a six-lane, well-traveled South San Jose thoroughfare — is not on the team's normal route.

Staff writer Sandra Gonzales contributed to this story. Reach Lisa Fernandez at 408-920-5002.