Family members identify crash victims

Monday, July 09, 2012

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Tamara Gibbs
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WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The three people killed in a Sunday morning crash in Wake County have been identified by family members.

The crash happened near the border of Wake and Granville counties around 2:10 a.m., when troopers said a 2005 Toyota Scion was headed north on Old Weaver Trail Road.

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Their initial investigation showed the car was moving at between 65 and 70 mph in a 45 mph speed limit zone when the driver apparently lost control in a curve. The car went off the road, and crashed into a tree before it burst into flames.

All three people in the car were trapped inside and died at the scene.

Family members told ABC11 that the victims are 20-year-old Tyler Duncan, 20-year-old Martin Kokus, and Marissa Paige Blanks.

Kokus owned the car. His two sisters visited the scene of the accident on Monday.

"He was the best brother ever," said Sierra Kokus.

"He was just a really good guy, and I miss him," said Megan Kokus.

Duncan leaves behind a wife and a three-year-old son.

Relatives said all three were headed home from a party.

It is unclear if alcohol played a role in the crash but an unopened beer bottle was found at the scene.

Megan Jennings, cousin to Kokus, remembered him as a helpful driver.

"He was one of those people that if you needed them, he was there," said Jennings. "If you needed to be picked up he would go get you. He was one of those people that always wanted you smiling, even if he wasn't."

The bodies of the three victims were sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill to be matched with medical records for positive identification. That report is still pending.