Driver in crash that killed 2 Wootton teens pleads guilty to 2 counts of vehicular manslaughter

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The former Wootton High School student charged with killing two friends after allegedly driving under the influence has entered a guilty plea, Montgomery County state's attorney's office says.

Friday, Sam Ellis pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide.

The crash happened on June 25 in the area of the 13800 block of Dufief Mill Road. Ellis was driving the car from an underage drinking party, when the car crashed into a fence and then into a tree before overturning into a yard.

Two teenagers were killed and two others were injured, Montgomery County police said.

All of the occupants of the vehicle had either just graduated from or currently attend Wootton High School in Rockville.

"It was quite clear to us that speed, alcohol and a lack of seat belts by the backseat passengers were directly related or factors involved in the collision of this nature," said Montgomery County Police Capt. Tom Didone.

He said the two teenagers who died, Calvin Jia-Xing Li and Alexander Murk, were in the back seat of the car. Both were 18 years old.

Ellis and another unnamed teenager, who was not seriously hurt, were in the front where the air bags deployed.