SEATTLE -- It was an emotional scene in court Friday afternoon as a judge set a million dollars bail for the man accused of killing two teenagers in a DUI crash on I-5 in Tukwila Wednesday. And police say they found a half bottle of vodka in the car that rammed into the teenagers.
A judge ordered Alexander Peder, 50, held on one million dollars bail when Peder made his first court appearance Friday afternoon. Peder was charged with two counts of Vehicular Homicide and one count of Vehicular Assault.
Troopers say Wednesday night Peder plowed his Ford Explorer into the back of 19-year-old Anthony Beaver's Honda when it stalled along I-5 in Tukwila, killing back passenger Derek King, 18, and inflicting fatal wounds on Nicholas Hodgins, 18. Driver Anthony Beaver survived but was injured.
On Friday, about two dozen of the victims' high school friends and relatives packed the courtroom at the King County Jail. Lance Beaver, the father of the single survivor of the crash, was also there and came face to face with the suspected drunk drive that plowed into his son's car. Lance's emotions were raw - he wanted Peder to see a picture of his smiling son and his best friends.
"I wanted him to see the faces of the two boys he murdered and he wouldn't look at us," said Lance.
According to court records, Peder was charged twice before for DUI. On both occasions, he plead to a lesser charge.
Lance Beaver says the night of the accident, Peder showed no remorse.
"He was trying to blame Anthony. He was telling Anthony he hit him and tried to blend in with the crowd," said Lance.
Outside of court, friends of the graduating high scholers hugged and held back tears. Saturday was graduation day for the boys. Injured Anthony Beaver will walk wearing his best friend's gown.
"He tore apart a community," said Lance Beaver. "He ruined hundreds of kids' graduation day. He tore families apart."
Troopers say the night of the accident, Peder had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred his speech and smelled of alcohol. Inside Peder's car investigators found a half bottle of vodka with a receipt showing the liquor was bought just six hours prior to the crash.
Troopers also took a blood draw to check his alcohol level. They are still awaiting test results from the state lab.
Prosecutors say Peder could face a maximum of three years behind bars for each count of Vehicular Homicide.
Peder's attorney declined to comment on the case.
The court appearance is just one day before Derek King and Nick Hodgins were supposed to receive their diplomas from Decatur High School in Federal Way.
The graduation ceremony is set for 4 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome. School spokesperson Diane Turner says there will be a "moment of silence" for the two graduates. The Federal way School District Superintendent says he will read King's and Hodgins' names at the time they were supposed to take the stage. Turner says the superintendent wants to leave students with hope.
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