Mark Mullan was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a fatal DUI crash that killed two and seriously injured two other members of the same family, reports Q13 Fox.

The accident happened earlier this year in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle. Mullan who has several DUI convictions in his past drove his pickup truck through an intersection as the Schulte family attempted to cross. Two grandparents were killed and a mother and newborn child were seriously injured. Mullan later tested for nearly three times the legal limit.

Many consider this accident as the impetus for the passage of tougher DUI laws this year; specifically, the emphasis on stopping repeat DUI offenders like Mullan.

On Friday, Dan Schulte and his wife attended the sentencing hearing. Dan Schulte spoke at the hearing describing the impact of the accident on his family's life. His wife, Karina Schulte, was just recently released from a hospital and attended the hearing in a wheelchair. Mullan did not speak at the hearing; however, his twin brother expressed condolences to the Schulte family.

Mullan had earlier pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. At the sentencing hearing, the judge's only job was to determine the penalty that Mullan would face. In determining the 18-year prison sentence, the judge considered factors like Mullan's past DUI history, the fact that he was driving on a suspended license, the impact he had on the victims, and even any remorse that Mullan had shown.

If you have been charged with a DUI, you should know that you will want an advocate for your case even if you are guilty of the crime. In many cases, an experienced DUI attorney on your side can ask a judge for leniency and even strike a deal for a reduced penalty.

To learn more about how a Seattle DUI attorney can assist you, contact the attorneys at Wolff Criminal Defense. You can reach us by calling 425-284-2000. Don't fight your case alone.