A New Mexico man pleaded guilty in connection with a drunken driving accident that claimed the lives of two sisters from the Navajo Nation.

James Ruiz, 36, admitted he rear ended a vehicle carrying the Peshlakai family. Sisters Deshauna, 17, and Del Lynn, 19, were killed in Santa Fe on March 5, 2010.

As part of his deal, Ruiz will be sentenced to 40 years in prison with the possibility of being sentenced to another 26 years if he violates his parole after release. Hie pleaded to two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of great bodily harm by vehicle.

Ruiz's blood alcohol level was 0.22 after the crash, nearly three times the state's legal limit.

The Peshlakai family were at a basketball game at Santa Fe Indian School before the accident. Deshauna played for Newcomb High School though she was sidelined due to an injury.

Del Lynn had played for the team when she was in school. All three of their older sisters also played.

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Man pleads guilty in fatal DWI crash that killed 2 sisters (The Santa Fe New Mexican 9/2)