Watch CBS News

Family Still In Shock 1-Year After Fatal Drunk Driving Crash

ROCKVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- Saturday will mark one year since three families and a Montgomery County high school community were rocked by a tragic fatal crash. A drunken teenage driver crashed and killed two passengers in his car. All of them were recent graduates.

Wootton High School student Alex Murk was one of the two teenagers killed, WJZ's Pat Warren reports.

On June 25, 2015, a teenage drinking party ended in tragedy.

Alex Murk's bedroom is precisely the way it was before the crash.

"The Red Sox... We had a really strong connection there," Alex's father, David Murk said.

His room is decorated in the colors of his beloved Boston Red Sox, reflecting his passion for sports, his confidence and magnetic personality.

"He loved his clothes," Alex's mother, Pamela Muk said. "He loved food. He could eat a lot. And sometimes when I'm making a really good meal, I wish he was here to eat this with us because he really liked his food."

His dog, Fred, still lies on his bed.

drunk driving victims
(L-R) Calvin Li, Alex Murk

Alex and Calvin Li, both 18, were passengers in a car driven by 18-year-old Sam Ellis, who, drinking drunk, lost control and crashed, killing them both.

Ellis was sentenced this month, and the father of the student who threw the party was found guilty of allowing underage drinking in his house.

Today, letters sent to Alex remain unopened.

"I can't open any more letters, because they just keep coming," his mother said.

Incidentals when he was alive -- like his grass cutting shoes -- are monumental now.

"I needed to keep him with us," said Muk.

His ashes sit on a shelf in the family room inside a box of memories, including a ball cap souvenir of the World Series game he attended with his dad.

"He wore it a lot. All his friends will tell you he had this hat on all the time," his father said. "We know he loved kids. He just loved kids. He was a kid... He was."

In April, state lawmakers passed Alex and Calvin's Law, which expands the penalties for adults guilty of allowing teenage drinking parties to include possible prison time.

The teenage driver was sentenced this month to four years in prison, with possible parole after one year.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.