ENUMCLAW, WA : 'I don't want to see him in prison': Father forgives teen driver who killed his son on Sunday, 2nd October 2016 by Keith Eldridge KOMO News Photo VIEW PHOTO GALLERY 8 photos AA ENUMCLAW, Wash. -- A grief-stricken father whose son was killed in a car crash says he forgives the young driver. The 18-year-old is accused of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault in what was supposed to be a night of fun at a bonfire. "He was a good kid. Good heart. Lot of friends. Good looking," said Ryan Hills, the father of 18-year-old crash victim Malek Frees. "Lot of life to live. Light up a room. He was my son. I loved him. I miss him." Frees was killed in a car crash early Sunday morning on Highway 410 east of Enumclaw. The state patrol says he and four other young people in the car had just been to a bonfire when the car lost control and hit a tree. Investigators believe the driver was impaired. "When you look at the impact and the intrusion into the passenger's side, it is a miracle that the other four occupants all appear to be making progress and doing better in the hospital," said Sgt. Tina Martin of the Washington State Patrol. The driver of the car had to be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he remains in the intensive care unit and under guard by the state patrol. But Malek's father says enough harm has been done. "I don't want to see him in prison," Hill said. "I really don't. I'd rather see him in church." Hills says he didn't know the driver and didn't know his son was out at the bonfire late into the morning. He said it's all a tough lesson for everyone. "I'm hoping his story might help others," he said. Sgt. Martin says she hopes this sends a message that you can't get into a car with an impaired driver. "We keep hitting home not to drive impaired," Martin said. "Have someone to call." Two "GoFundMe" sites have been established for the victims, including one for Frees' family, and another for his girlfriend Tristan Hedrick who was also injured and is hospitalized in serious condition. Two others in the car, Aaron Hewes and Lorenzo Dawson remain in the hospital in satisfactory condition. MORE TO EXPLORE Crews working to rescue person who fell about 40 feet in confined space Crews working to rescue person who… Man pleads guilty to murdering girlfriend's 3-year-old child; sentenced to life in prison Man pleads guilty to murdering… Kim Kardashian robbed of millions in jewelry, held captive at gunpoint in her Paris hotel Kim Kardashian robbed of… Former police detective portrayed in Disney movie sentenced to 5 years in prison Former police detective portrayed in… AROUND THE WEB Recommended by NEWS IN PICTURES PHOTOS | Amber Rose and friends join for 'Slut Walk Festival' to empower women PHOTOS | Amber Rose and friends join for 'Slut Walk Festival' to empower women GALLERY | The Obamas through the years on their 24th wedding anniversary GALLERY | The Obamas through the years on their 24th wedding anniversary Court docs: Woman admits to deadly stabbing at Portland strip club Court docs: Woman admits to deadly stabbing at Portland strip club 10 adorable, adoptable pets from the Oregon Humane Society ENUMCLAW, WA : 10 adorable, adoptable pets from the Oregon Humane Society on Sunday, 2nd October 2016

A grief-stricken father whose son was killed in a car crash says he forgives the young driver. The 18-year-old is accused of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault in what was supposed to be a night of fun at a bonfire.
"He was a good kid. Good heart. Lot of friends. Good looking," said Ryan Hills, the father of 18-year-old crash victim Malek Frees. "Lot of life to live. Light up a room. He was my son. I loved him. I miss him."
Frees was killed in a car crash early Sunday morning on Highway 410 east of Enumclaw. The state patrol says he and four other young people in the car had just been to a bonfire when the car lost control and hit a tree. Investigators believe the driver was impaired.
"When you look at the impact and the intrusion into the passenger's side, it is a miracle that the other four occupants all appear to be making progress and doing better in the hospital," said Sgt. Tina Martin of the Washington State Patrol.
The driver of the car had to be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he remains in the intensive care unit and under guard by the state patrol.
But Malek's father says enough harm has been done.
"I don't want to see him in prison," Hill said. "I really don't. I'd rather see him in church."
Hills says he didn't know the driver and didn't know his son was out at the bonfire late into the morning. He said it's all a tough lesson for everyone.
"I'm hoping his story might help others," he said.
Sgt. Martin says she hopes this sends a message that you can't get into a car with an impaired driver.
"We keep hitting home not to drive impaired," Martin said. "Have someone to call."
Two "GoFundMe" sites have been established for the victims, including one for Frees' family, and another for his girlfriend Tristan Hedrick who was also injured and is hospitalized in serious condition.
Two others in the car, Aaron Hewes and Lorenzo Dawson remain in the hospital in satisfactory condition.

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'I don't want to see him in prison': Father forgives teen driver who killed his son