A former San Jose high school cheerleader who suddenly found herself in the middle of a street race on a busy suburban street died Thursday night after one of the speeding cars hit her Volkswagen — the city's second street-racing fatal crash in two weeks.

The young woman was identified this morning by the Santa Clara County coroner's office as Alyson Snow, 20, of Fremont.

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 taken into custody, 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 student 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

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for her, I just held her hand."

She said she kept talking to "Daniel," whose last name she never learned, before paramedics came. She also saw that both Daniel and the friend he called "Aly" were wearing seat belts. Police have not released Daniel's last name but said his injuries were not life-threatening.

"This has shook up the neighborhood," said Daniel Fehderau, who lives near the crash site. "This is just crazy."

San Jose police Lt. Robert Reinhardt explained some of the details of the fatal crash to the Mercury News today. "Unfortunately, this one claimed the life of an innocent victim," said Reinhardt.

Reinhardt said a brownish gold 2004 Nissan and a black 1997 BMW were allegedly 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 for BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, including at one in the Oakridge mall, said Chang, a Leland High grad who attends the University of California-Davis. Snow had dreams of opening up her own restaurant some day.

Chang described Snow as a someone small in stature — 5-foot-1 inches tall — 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 advisor. "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."

This is the second fatal street racing death in San Jose this month. On Oct. 8, 23-year-old Luan Le of San Jose died while speeding down Silver Creek Valley Road east of Hellyer Road.

Police say Le's 1988 Honda Civic hatchback was racing a green 2000 Acura. Le lost control of his car, which smashed into a tree. Le was ejected from the car and police initially arrested the 19-year-old Acura driver, Frank Alvarez, for participating in a race. However, Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Amy Cornell said prosecutors have not charged Alvarez, sending the case back to police for more investigation.

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-travelled South San Jose thoroughfare — is not on the team's normal route. Bailey and Yerba Buena roads are two areas that racers like to frequent, police said, but the spots move around the city.

"The average person speeds a little up and down Branham," Reinhardt said. "But not at the rate these guys were traveling."

Mercury News Staff Writer Sandra Gonzales contributed to this report. Contact Lisa Fernandez at 408-920-5002.