For their role in a fatal crash that occurred on a rural Ceres road over a year ago Shannon Dunkirk, 21, of Waterford and Andrew Vazquez, 25, of Modesto were each sentenced to two years in state prison.

Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Rick Distaso sentenced both on Thursday for their conviction of felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

At approximately 1:20 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2015, Dunkirk, then age 20, was driving westbound on East Grayson Road when he ran the stop sign at Morgan Road. His speed was estimated at 10-20 mph. His car was struck by Vazquez, who was driving northbound on Morgan Road going 66 mph after also running a stop sign at the four-way stop intersection. Marco Ruelaz, a passenger in Vazquez's car, was killed.

Both drivers appeared to have been driving under the influence of alcohol and were investigated for that crime by members of the California Highway Patrol. Dunkirk was found to have an alcohol level of 0.12 percent and Vazquez was found to have a 0.13% alcohol level.
The California Highway Patrol's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (or "MAIT" team) out of Fresno assisted with the investigation.

Dunkirk was also sentenced to prison for an unrelated assault case.