Drunk driver sentenced for four deaths

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Judge Burt Carnes found Luke Looschen guilty of four counts of intoxicated manslaughter and two counts of intoxicated assault. He also found that the vehicle he drove was used as a deadly weapon.

Then Judge Carnes sentenced Looschen to 50 years in prison. The large number came from the judge stacking several sentences after imposing 20 years in prison for each intoxicated manslaughter and 10 years in prison for each intoxicated assault.

Looschen, 48, will not be eligible for parole for 25 years.

The accident took place on Aug. 10, 2009. Troopers arrested Looschen after his pickup collided with a Jeep and a van with six passengers on westbound State Highway 29 in Williamson County.

While the driver of the Jeep was not seriously injured, officials pronounce a couple in the van dead at the scene - Pete Mendez, 44, and Paula Martinez, 38. Another two died later at University Medical Center Brackenridge.

Emergency crews transported a 1- and 3-year-old to the hospital for treatment that night as well.

Looschen reportedly told the state trooper responding to the scene that he had been drinking and had taken anti-depressants. He said he had also taken hydrocodone, according to police documents.

Documents indicate blood test results later revealed Looschen’s blood alcohol content level was 0.181, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.