Ferrari driver apparently met his passengers just before deadly crash, police say

A Ferrari speeding in a neighborhood with waterfront views in West Palm Beach struck a tree and caught fire, killing two adults and injuring a child, West Palm Beach police said.

The white 2015 Ferrari California was southbound on South Flagler Drive when the crash happened at Murray Road about 6:30 p.m. Thursday night, according to police. Those killed were the car’s owner, Eric Lavelle, 41, and the front-seat passenger, Edward Miller, 46, both of West Palm Beach, police said Friday.

The 10-year-old boy, who was riding in the back seat, is expected to make a full recovery, according to West Palm Beach Police Sgt. David Lefont.

South Flagler Drive is a road that lines the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway. The crash happened about a half-mile north of Lavelle’s home.

Investigators said the two men met right before the crash.

West Palm Beach Police said a father and his son were at a store when the Ferrari’s driver offered them a ride in his fancy car. Something police said he did often.

“It seems to be one of those cases where someone who has a nice car ... he offered to take them for a little spin to show them,” said West Palm Beach Police Traffic investigator James Ingrassia.

A witness told WPEC-CBS12 that Miller was thrown from the car, and his son got out of the car and began yelling for his father.

“The damage alone just with the speed was a very violent impact,” Ingrassia said. “Just a lot of energy transferred between people in the car and how they came to a stop so quickly because of the objects they hit.”

Lavelle’s neighbor said Lavelle also had a young son. Police don't know how fast the driver was going or if they were wearing seat belts.

Investigators are also trying to figure out how long the father and son were in the car before the crash happened.

Reached Friday, Lavelle’s father declined to comment.

Police ask anyone who saw what happened to call the department at 561-822-1900.

WPEC-CBS12 is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s news partner.