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Drunken Driver Crashed Car, Killed Best Friend Both were graduates of Thomas Edison High School

Updated 5:51 PM EDT, Sun, Jan 4, 2009

Lisa F. Young

Joshua S. Buker, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was apparently not wearing his seatbelt.

 

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Fairfax County police say they have charged an Alexandria man with driving while intoxicated after a crash that killed his best friend.

Police say 21-year-old Joshua Buker was ejected Saturday from a car driven by 22-year-old Steven Kowalik after Kowalik lost control, ramming into a tree and utility pole. The pair were traveling eastbound on Fleet Drive in a Franconia neighborhood.

Buker was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Kowalik was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Friends of the men say they were best friends who graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 2005.

Police say speed and alcohol contributed to the crash.

Comments (77)

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  • Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 21 at 10:11 AM FLAG COMMENT Again, idots making comments when they don't know all the facts-it is still being investigated.
  • justice for Josh Friday, Jan 16 at 7:33 PM FLAG COMMENT The first good deed- see that Steven is in jail for life! He doesn't need any more chances according to his driving record! Can you even believe he actually started running away on foot from the scene and when that didn't work tried to get into the car to leave?(yes we have a witness to this! What a friend!
  • don't drink and drive Wednesday, Jan 14 at 5:53 PM FLAG COMMENT SUch a tragic story! Could have been prevented if only the parents had parented their children they were younger and taught them the to value life, and not drink and drive. Now they are defensively defending their sons. Is the murderer in jail yet?
  • Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 14 at 3:13 PM FLAG COMMENT No you don't know all the facts-you weren't there at the accident and neither was I. Let's just pray for all the families involved, live a good life, and do good deeds in Josh's memory.
  • Justice for Josh Wednesday, Jan 14 at 1:10 PM FLAG COMMENT Here's his driving record; We do know the facts the boy was driving drunk and killed his friend in the process. Now we need to seek justice. KOWALIK ","STEVEN ","M","019"," 5816","BUSH H ILL ","DR","ALEXANDRIA ","VA","10/29/2005","STOPPING ON HIGHWAY " "KOWALIK ","STEVEN ","M","019"," 5816","BUSH HILL ","DR","ALEXANDRIA ","VA","10/29/2005","STOPPING ON HIGHWAY " "KOWALIK ","STEVEN ","M","020"," 5816","BUSH HILL ","DR"," ... MORE >

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