3 DIE IN FREEWAY CHASE : VICTIMS' FRIEND HELD IN CRASH.

Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer

They became best friends at Sylmar High School, where they all played instruments in the school's 120-piece marching band.

After graduation, the bond among the three pals grew stronger as they helped each other plan out their promising futures.

Shannon Haupt, 20, wanted to be a zoologist. Medical school was the ultimate goal for Michael Encinas, 18. And 18-year-old Pablo Munoz was just a week away from joining a Marines training program at Cal State Northridge.

But after a celebration dinner for Munoz at a Northridge restaurant, the three friends were killed Tuesday night when Munoz's 1990 Nissan Maxima flew off an embankment during what the California Highway Patrol called a high-speed car race with other friends.

Kenneth Acosta, a close friend of the victims and the driver of the 1991 Honda Prelude the CHP believes was involved in the race, is being held at Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Although few such freeway races end in fatal crashes, they are becoming increasingly popular among some young people who soup up mainly Japanese cars and test out their engine power on local roadways, according to the CHP.

``It is a big thing among these young kids,'' said CHP Patrol Officer Kara Ellis. ``They just do a lot of things to make it as fast as they can and then play around.''

Ellis hopes it's just a passing fad but said the San Fernando Valley appears to be a popular location for the driving duels.

According to the CHP, the group had gathered for a meal at a Northridge restaurant before heading home east on the Ronald Reagan Freeway, where Acosta and Munoz began to race at speeds that topped 100 mph.

The drivers eased up on their pedals as their cars got onto the Foothill Freeway interchange in Sylmar, but the CHP said Munoz didn't slow down enough.

According to the CHP, Munoz lost control of his car after closing in too fast on slower-moving traffic along a westbound stretch of the freeway just east of Maclay Street.

The sedan veered off to the right and sailed off the embankment, hurtling the three friends before the car landed on its roof about 400 feet away in a canal, the CHP said.

Haupt and Munoz were pronounced dead at the scene, while Encinas was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he died at 11:58 p.m.

Acosta, a Sylmar resident, and his passenger, Kathleen Blauvelt, 20, were not injured in the incident that occurred shortly before 11 p.m., but Acosta was examined and later released by doctors after complaining of pains.

News of the crash stunned families, classmates and school officials, who remembered the trio Wednesday as a highly accomplished and responsible group of friends.

``I'm just numb, very numb,'' said Haupt's mother, Pam Haupt. ``They were very close. Apparently, kids who think about car racing don't think about the consequences.''

Kerrie Kaulbach, 19, Haupt's former classmate, said it's ironic that Acosta is being held in connection with the deaths of his good friends.

``It's a shock to me,'' Kaulbach said. ``Kenny loved all three of them. Those were his best friends in the whole world.''

Ellis said the driver faces second-degree murder charges because he was involved in an unlawful act - racing - that resulted in death or injury.

Acosta's father, Dan Acosta, dismissed allegations that his son was racing, saying that he was merely trying to keep up with Munoz, who had sped ahead.

``It was a tragic, tragic, tragic incident, but it was an accident,'' Dan Acosta said. ``There was no murder involved. My heart goes out to the families. I wish I could trade places with the kids.''

Michael Encinas' father, Richard Encinas, said he had often warned his son and Munoz about speeding and that his son's best friend recently had altered the suspension on his car and made other changes.

But he said: ``I don't hold anything against Pablo. They were very, very close friends.''

Richard Encinas said his son had already narrowly escaped death once - when he was born premature weighing less than 2 pounds.

The 41-year-old product manager said his son had grown up to be a strong student at Sylmar High, where he was a bass drum player in the school band. After graduating in 1996, the younger Encinas enrolled at Cal State Northridge where he was taking general courses to be able to transfer to UCLA where he wanted to study a pre-med program.

``He was a great kid,'' said Richard Encinas, describing his oldest son. ``You have good environments and bad environments at school, but Michael always chose the right path.''

The elder Encinas said his son and Munoz will be buried side by side in their band uniforms. The CHP listed Munoz as Pablo Rangel. However, family members said Rangel is his mother's maiden name, and his lawful name is Munoz.

Raj Samaroo, director of Sylmar High's band, remembered Munoz on Wednesday as a talented trombonist, who had won a $1,000 Herb Alpert Scholarship to attend CSUN.

Yet Munoz and his two friends would often return to their alma mater to help out with the band and attend events.

``Munoz was like an old soul, who had this soothing effect on everybody,'' Samaroo said.

Haupt's mother said Munoz, a student at Cal State Northridge, was planning to enlist in the Marines reserve officer training program on Tuesday and that the three friends had met up with the two others to give him encouragement.

Pam Haupt said she was still in shock over her daughter's death.

``She was a wonderful person,'' Haupt said. ``She would go that extra mile for a person, do whatever it takes.''

She said her daughter, who was a cymbal player in the Sylmar High band before she graduated in 1995, was planning to return to a community college where she wanted to take courses preparing her for a career in zoology.

``These are kids that kids would go to when they were stressed out or needed help,'' Samaroo said. ``These are kids that kids would go to when they were making decisions about where their lives were headed.''

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos, map

PHOTO (1 -- color) The vehicle involved in Tuesday night's fatal crash on the Foothill Freeway plowed through a guardrail.

Evan Yee/Daily News

(2 -- color) Munoz

(3 -- color) Haupt

(4 -- color) Encinas

MAP: Death Race

Len Ge Groot/ Daily News