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Drunk Driver Gets 6-Year Prison Sentence For Fatal Maplewood Crash

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A drunk driver who caused a crash that killed two people and critically injured two others last year is now headed to state prison.

Harrison Allen, of Livingston, received a six-year sentence Friday.

In Septembed, Allen — the son of a Montclair fire chief — pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and assault by auto charges stemming from the August 2013 crash in Maplewood..

"Driving under the influence of alcohol at an excessive speed is not the basis of an accident. It is an act of criminal recklessness," said Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray.

Authorities have said Allen failed to heed a stop sign on a residential street and plowed his vehicle into a car with four occupants.

Sixteen-year-old Tamir Harry and 21-year-old Kevin Noel, both of Maplewood, were ejected from the car and were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people in the car, Harry's older brother, Tahsir, and Rodney Lovius, had to be extricated and were critically injured.

Neighbors of Allen's in Livingston said he is a good kid, and they said the crash is a tragedy he will never get over. Others near the scene of the crash said speeding is common in the area, and speed bumps would have helped.

"It was something waiting to happen," said Cleta Wickham, who added that she believed the crash was caused by more than just an impaired driver.

But Padmore was not so sure.

"It just breaks your heart, and now all we can do is hopefully, we become stronger and fight against drinking and driving, because it hits home," she said. "It really does hit home."

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