An Alaska couple set to start college in the fall was tragically killed in a car accident caused by a drunk-driving US soldier last weekend.
The Anchorage Police Department identified the young couple as 20-year-old Derek Duerr and 18-year-old Amelia Nowak. Both were expected to start school in the fall on basketball scholarships.
Instead, they were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident caused by 23-year-old Matthew Davis. Davis was driving a pickup truck at a high rate of speed when he collided with vehicles in three separate crashes.
Nowak and Duerr, who were involved in the second crash, were stopped at an intersection when Davis collided with their vehicle. The crash’s impact sent them crashing into a tree, causing the car to burst into flames.
Firefighters could not rescue Nowak and Duerr in time, and they were pronounced dead at the scene.
Davis was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries following the third crash, according to People.
An eyewitness told police that Davis appeared to be driving at about 80 to 90 miles an hour before smashing into Nowak and Duerr’s car. Authorities said the soldier’s blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.
Davis told investigators that he had consumed 10 to 15 alcoholic beverages before getting behind the wheel. He does not remember driving.
Davis has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and one count of driving under the influence. His bail was set at $80,000.
