The mother of a 19-year-old Pitt Meadows man who was killed in a fiery car crash on the August long weekend wants to warn other young people about the dangers of speeding and reckless driving.

Laurie Streiling's son Sheldon died in a car crash on July 31, which ended with his Mitsubishi Eclipse erupting into flames.

He was driving westbound on Lougheed Highway and swerved to avoid a turning vehicle. His vehicle then ended up sliding backwards into the eastbound lane of Lougheed Highway and he struck a Hyundai with two passengers from Mission head on.

Police said in a media release that speed and aggressive driving were determined to be contributing factors. The two passengers in the Hyundai were taken to Royal Columbian Hospital for medical treatment. There was no evidence that he had been drinking.

Laurie described her son as "a great kid" who committed a "foolish act."

She said from what she understands her son was driving between 150 to 200 kilometres an hour prior to the crash.

"There's a time and a place for this type of speed. They need to be out at the Mission raceway and not on our city streets. We have lost our son because of his foolish act but he's also impacted so many people around him from his loss," said Laurie. "He impacted another family who was travelling home that evening, the other car that was hit."

Laurie said she's heard the man suffered a broken wrist and the woman had to undergo surgery due to internal injuries.

"He was a bigger than life personality and these young guys have got to get it through their heads that racing like this, speeding like this and showing off it's affecting so many people," she said.

Sheldon had been training to become a mechanic. Laurie said he loved skateboarding, snowboarding, anything to do with cars and spending quality time with his family.

"He really loved his family. He was all about family and friends," she said. "He gave everything to everybody around him. He would help anybody with anything."

Laurie said she decided to speak out in her time of grief because she doesn't want his death to be in vain.

"I want somebody to learn from this," she said.

Sheldon left behind a 16-year-old brother, Ashton, and his dad Colin and mom Laurie, as well as a girlfriend of two years.

There will be a memorial service on Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. at Burkeview Chapel, which is located at 1340 Dominion Avenue in Port Coquitlam.