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Updated: Tuesday, 14 Apr 2009, 4:11 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 13 Apr 2009, 11:55 PM EDT
JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. - Police say the driver who killed a James City County teenager in a weekend crash was drunk behind the wheel.
19-year-old Christopher Mellis died at the scene, on Richmond Road. State Police tell WAVY.com a car going in the opposite direction Friday night drifted into Mellis' lane and hit his car head-on.
"I never no matter what you've gone through in your life there's nothing to compare with the pain of losing your child," said Donna Mellis.
Police say Mathew Burch, the driver of the other car, was drunk.
"You might as well go out in the street with an oozie and start shooting, it's no different," said Donna Mellis.
Mellis says her son was following behind a friend. That friend swerved to avoid Burch, but Mellis didn't have time to react.
The Williamsburg James City County Commonwealth Attorney confirmed had two prior DUI convictions within the last ten years. He's been charged with invountary manslaugher and DUI 3rd.
"This shouldn't happen this isn't an accident this is not an accident," said Donna Mellis.
Donna Mellis says she had to see her son's body. She described it as broken. But his soul, everyone described as unbreakable.
"I'm starting to feel that he wasn't met to be here for a long time because he seems to have touched so many people in his brief life," said Mellis.
Monday night, dozens of Christopher's friends gathered in the Mellis home.
"I need to hug them, I need to touch them because when I do I feel like I've got part of my Christopher," explained Mellis.
Mellis says she doesn't hate Mathew Burch, but justice must be served.
"He has to take responsibility for what he did for taking my boy away," she continued.
She hopes her tragedy will be enough to prevent someone else's.
"It's going to happen to other people, but if it can happen to one less or two less, my son's death isn't in vain," said Mellis.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 on Wednesday, April 15 at Nelson Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg. A funeral mass will be held at St. Bede Catholic Church on
Thursday, April 16th at 11AM.
Online condolences may be registered at www.nelsoncares.com
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