A fatal car crash that killed two employees of a Penn Hills pizza shop on Tuesday and injured three rocked the shop’s close-knit group of friends and fellow workers. Pasqualino’s Italian Restaurant employees Christopher Schuffert, 22, and Julian Wilson, 21, both of Penn Hills, died when the car police say Wilson drove crashed into a tree at around 4 a.m. The car became airborne after going around a curve in the 3000 block of Universal Road in Penn Hills. Juliet Barbati and Jay Wilson, Julian’s twin brother, also employees of Pasqualino’s, and former employee Brandey Turba Jr. were injured in the wreck. Jay Wilson was in fair condition at UPMC Mercy, Uptown, and Barbati was in critical condition at UPMC Presbyterian, Oakland. Turba was released from Mercy and declined to comment when reached at his home. “They were very good workers, but beyond that, they were very good people,” restaurant owner Frank Pasqualino said of Schuffert and Julian Wilson. “They were just kindhearted.” Co-worker Megan Trainor, 24, of Penn Hills said the group was attending another employee’s birthday party at Oakmont Tavern in Oakmont on Monday night. “They were both amazing people,” Trainor said. “I don’t think they would’ve realized how many lives they’ve touched.” Yesterday, the street to Schuffert’s home near the scene of the crash was lined with friends’ cars. Schuffert’s brother, Santino Lauletta, said the family is still trying to piece together what happened. He said Schuffert came home briefly about 3:10 a.m. and told their mother he was going back out with friends. “He was always out late so my mom didn’t think anything of it,” Lauletta, 26, said. “I’m holding up, trying to stay strong. I keep trying not to cry.” Lauletta described his brother as a “free spirit,” interested in art, who recently talked about becoming a chef. “He just did his own thing,” Lauletta said. “He lived his 22 years the way he wanted to live them.” Julian Wilson was a jokester who would talk to everybody, said coworker Zachary Stough, 18, of Penn Hills. “He would crack jokes all the time,” Stough said. “There was never a dull moment when he was working.” Police said speed was a factor in the crash and are investigating whether alcohol played a role. “It’s tragic, there’s no doubt about it,” said Penn Hills police Chief Howard Burton. “People don’t realize that bend curves that much.” Police and neighbors estimated there have been at least two other fatal wrecks at the Universal Road curve, near Deborah Jane Drive, in the past 15 years. A motorcyclist crashed into Erik Gensler’s front yard several years ago in the same area the car involved in yesterday’s crash landed. “You get used to the crashes,” Gensler said. “You call 911, and then you go out and see what you can do.” Allegheny County spokeswoman Megan Dardanell said the road is “appropriately marked for caution areas and speed,” but it will be included the next time the county reviews roads for signage. Jessica Szuminsky, who also works at Pasqualino’s, said as soon as she heard where the accident was, she knew it involved her friends. “My heart dropped,” said Szuminsky,16, of Penn Hills. “They’re all so fun. They’re amazing people. None of them deserved that.” Throughout the day, friends and co-workers filtered in and out of Pasqualino’s, some in tears. “You just never expect it in your life,” Pasqualino said. “It’s horrific.” Email Newsletters TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.