Sam Ellis, Teen Driver in Crash That Killed 2 Wootton Graduates, Pleads Guilty

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD - The teenage driver charged with killing two Wootton High School graduates while allegedly driving under the influence has entered a guilty plea, according to media reports in WUSA-9 and Fox-5 DC. Sam Ellis has pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide.

Ellis, a former star quarterback at the school, was charged with two counts each of vehicular manslaughter and homicide by motor vehicle along with another count for causing life-threatening injuries while operating a vehicle intoxicated in November.

Four teens left an underage drinking party on June 25, police have said, when their car left the road, struck a tree and flipped over, killing Alexander Murk, 18, of Potomac and Calvin Jia-Xing Li, 18, of Rockville. The Potomac man who hosted the alleged underage drinking party pleaded guilty to furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Another passenger and Ellis were both taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

At the time, Montgomery County Police Capt. Thomas Didone said at a news conference that cold beer in plastic cups was found inside Ellis’ car.

In March 2015, Ellis was cited for possession of alcohol under the legal age, and the charges were to be dropped pending his completion of an alcohol education program, WTOP reported. The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s office says Ellis had not completed the program to date.

Ellis faces up to 10 years for each count.

»PHOTO: Wootton High School students gather at the scene of a fatal crash last month, courtesy Montgomery Community Media

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Marc Torrence and Deb Belt contributed to this report