The driver that killed two teenagers three days before their graduation from Decatur High School last spring will be spending the next eight and a half years in prison.
Alexander E. Peder was sentenced to 102 months Friday afternoon by King County Superior Court Judge James Cayce for two counts of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence after killing Decatur seniors Derek King, 18, and Nicholas Hodgins, 18, on June 9, 2010. The driver of the car, Anthony Beaver, also a Decatur senior, survived.
“These three young men were supposed to be launching into adulthood,” said King County Deputy Prosecutor Amy Freedheim during the sentencing hearing. “This was their last day of high school, but only one would survive the day.”
Frieedheim, along with Peder and his attorney, John Wolfe, recommended to Cayce for the maximum sentence possible, which was the 102 months he received.
Peder’s sentencing range included a pair of two-year enhancements for two prior DUI-related convictions. He was convicted of first-degree negligent driving in 1998 and of reckless endangerment in 2008 after pleading down both alchohol-related incidents.
After entering a plea of not guilty immediately following the crash, Peder flipped and plead guilty on the two counts of vehicular homicide in February.
"I accept full and complete responsibility for my reckless actions," Peder said Friday. "Today, I'm here to face their families and friends. I'm sincerely sorry for the pain and suffering I have caused them. I selfishly choose to drink and drive that evening. I wish I could turn back the hands of time."
King, Hodgins and Anthony Beaver were driving south on Interstate 5, coming home after a celebration for their high school graduation in Bellevue with several other Decatur seniors.
“Our boys were doing everything right that night,” said Mary Bobbitt, Hodgins’ mother. “They were great kids spending time with their friends and so looking forward to graduation.”
Peder, who was also injured in the crash, was taken to Harborview, released a few hours later, then arrested and taken to King County Jail.
According to the trooper’s report, Peder had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and “spoke with a thick tongue.” There was alcohol on his breath when he spoke.
In light of this, before being taken to the hospital, troopers had medics draw blood to test blood-alcohol levels. Toxicology reports showed Peder’s blood alcohol level to be .16 percent.
According to the charging papers filed Monday, there was also a small amount of marijuana and a pipe in the Explorer.
This was not Peder’s first DUI. In 1998, the charge was amended to negligent driving and his sentence was deferred after Peder showed proof of completing a DUI victims panel and getting an alcohol evaluation. In 2008, he was arrested for a DUI; this time the charge was amended to reckless endangerment, and Peder was given a two-year suspended sentence. He is still on suspension for that last DUI offense.
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