Cameron Charles Presland (21) was sentenced to four years and nine months' jail for the manslaughter of Danielle (17) and Shannon (22) Kiriau, when he appeared in the High Court at Dunedin this morning.
Presland was also sentenced to two years' jail on two charges dangerous driving causing injury to his car's other occupants. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Presland had been drinking before he got behind the wheel of his unregistered and unwarranted Honda Integra early on May 18 last year.
He was speeding when he lost control of the illegally modified car and spun several times on the Southern motorway near Green Island. The car spun into a tree on the roadside before striking a metal light pole killing Shannon.
Danielle and another passenger, Courtney Donald (18), were thrown from the spinning car on to the road.
Justice Cameron Mander told Presland the "needless deaths'' had left a "deep void'' in the lives of the Kiriau family.
16 surgeries for passenger
Miss Donald had undergone 16 "major and invasive'' surgeries since the accident and had to learn how to eat, breathe, walk and toilet again following the crash.
The Donald family's victim impact statement - which was read in court - said a portion of Miss Donald's skull had to be removed following the accident and remained off for five months before being replaced by a synthetic material.
Beverley de'Blecourt - the mother of Shannon and Danielle - said in her victim impact statement that she still found it hard to drive past the site of the crash.
Danielle had started a new job soon before the crash and Shannon had found what he wanted to do in life, the statement - read in court by Constable Amy Stewart - said.
"Unfortunately we will never know what the future for them will hold,'' it said.
A blood sample taken at Dunedin Hospital almost three hours after the crash showed Presland's blood contained 79mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit at the time was 80mg.
Presland's car was travelling between 142kmh and 163kmh at the time of the crash, a police summary of facts said. He lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a moderate right-hand bend.
The car spun into a tree and the left side of the vehicle struck a metal light pole, killing Mr Kiriau. Miss Kiriau, who was Presland's girlfriend, died at the scene from head injuries. Miss Donald suffered serious head injuries and fractures and was taken to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition. The car's other passenger, Caitlin Adams, suffered fractures to both hands, concussion and bruising.
Justice Mander said today it appeared that Presland had tried to "shift the blame'' for the crash on to the car's condition.
"You are going to have to live with their deaths and the terrible damage done to Courtney for the rest of your life,'' he said.
The judge also ordered Presland to pay reparation of $2600 to the Kiriau family and $1200 to the Donald family.
Presland was disqualified from driving for five years. He sat silently throughout the sentencing and showed little emotion as he was led away by court bailiffs.
Car not roadworthy
Presland's Honda had an after-market turbo, which was not certified, the car was unregistered and had not passed a warrant of fitness test since 2010.
Presland was aware of the vehicle's condition when he took possession, the police summary said.
The day before the crash, he was seen twice ''rapidly accelerating the vehicle in an exhibition of speed''. On both occasions he was carrying passengers.
Presland and the crash's four victims drove to a party in Chapman St later, arriving about 9.20pm, on the night of the crash.
The group left the party, where Presland consumed alcohol, about 2.45am. He crashed the Integra shortly after 3am, soon after entering the Southern Motorway. The road was dry and free of traffic at the time. Weather conditions were clear.
