Somerville man admits he was driving drunk when he crashed in 2011, killing two 16-year-old girls

A Somerville man pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court today to two counts of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, charges that stemmed from an April 2011 crash that claimed the lives of two 16-year-old girls.

Kenneth Belew, 22, was sentenced to five years at the Middlesex House of Correction after admitting he was driving drunk when he crashed, killing Mayara Alves, of Everett, and Isabella Dasilva of Somerville. He is eligible for parole after serving half of that sentence, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.’s office.

Alves was pronounced dead at the scene and Dasilva died several days later. The girls were not wearing seatbelts, prosecutors said. The remaining three occupants, including Belew, were hospitalized, treated, and released, according to prosecutors.

Belew’s blood alcohol level was .17; state limit is .08. He also drove at speeds reaching 91 miles an hour before he crashed on the McGrath Highway on April 21, 2011, according to prosecutors.

Belew also plead guilty to negligent operation of a motor vehicle and was given an additional two year sentence, with one year to serve, by Superior Court Judge Mitchell Kaplan, according to prosecutors.

“By pleading guilty today, the defendant has admitted his responsibility for the horribly tragic crash that took the lives of two young women and injured three others,’’ Leone said. “This defendant chose to drive with a blood alcohol level at least twice the legal limit and at an excessive rate of speed – a combination for disaster.’’

The surviving passengers told authorities that they thought Belew was OK to drive the night they were leaving the house party, prosecutors said.

“This was another preventable and tragic example of the deadly consequences of impaired driving,’’ said Leone. “Our thoughts remain with the victims’ families and friends.’’