By Julie Moravchik, FOX 21 News

DULUTH -  Two families are grieving after the deaths of two young Duluth men in an early morning crash.

Hans Warren and Timothy Schlies had been best friends since they were 11 years old.  Even now, in their 20's they continued to spend time together. Warren and Schlies loved to fish and hang out, they even worked at Sammy's Pizza in downtown Duluth together for a while.

But Sunday night, when they were out for a ride, they were broadsided by GMC Yukon at the intersection of U.S. Highway 53 and Arrowhead Road in Hermantown.  Schlies, 26, died at the scene and Warren, 27, died a few hours later at the hospital.

Kimberly Schlies says she received the knock on her door at 2:30 this morning with the news no mother should ever have to hear, that her son was gone.
Kimberly Schlies says, "I opened the door and two policeman were there.
And at first i didn't want to believe it, he's just gone you know, cause I talked to him yesterday."

Kimberly says her son was a happy bubbly person and that's how she wants him to be remembered.  Kimberly Schlies says, "As by how he touched so many people and he was loved by so many people.  He was friendly."

According to Timothy's sister, Breanne DeFoe Timothy was a father with two boys.  4–year old Christopher and a new baby he was making plans to adopt, 7–month old Ashton.  Kimberly Schlies says, "He loved being a dad, he was a great dad."  DeFoe says,"He was an awesome dad, he was amazing, he loved being a dad."

His sister Breanne says their family is close, and the three siblings grew even closer when their father, John committed suicide three years ago.
Breanne DeFoe says, "Every holiday, every birthday everything we know that we're the three, we're a group, we've always been and with my dad passing we've gotten even closer with that and to have timothy be gone we'll never  be a complete sibling group again."

Their hearts break when they picture the two boys growing up without their father.  On Monday 7–month old Ashton learned how to crawl, but Timothy was not there to see it.  There is so much he will miss out on, dying at the young age of 26, and that's what hurts this family most of all.
Breanne DeFoe says, "I think the thing I'll miss most about my brother is having him around."

Family members say Timothy struggled with depression and substance abuse and had recently turned his life around.  They want to help others who may be struggling.  They ask that people send donations in Timothy's honor to "Minnesota Teen Challenge," an organization helping kids dealing with those very issues at www.mntc.org/tribute-gifts.

Meanwhile, we were unable to contact the family of Hans Warren.
But his boss at Sammy's Pizza Terry Perrella says Hans was quote, "A very, very nice guy who loved skateboarding, fishing and reading. And he will be missed."

Investigators are awaiting toxicology tests on the victims, but do not believe alcohol was a factor for the victimes, Warren and Schlies or the driver of the GMC Yukon.  The driver was Dan Dougherty, 50, owner of Doughtery Funeral Home in Duluth.  He was not injured. 

Dougherty was not available for comment, but Sharon Jugasek, business manager for the funeral home said, "Dan is devestated by this and so is his family.  His thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who died."