By Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 8, 2010
TAMPA — An Army veteran accused of killing two women in a string of crashes he caused while driving drunk pleaded guilty Monday to two DUI manslaughter charges.
Randy Archiquette, 40, of Riverview, had a 0.147 percent blood alcohol level while driving the afternoon of April 13, 2009, investigators said.
He caused five crashes within 30 minutes, stopping only when his gold Chevrolet Yukon flipped upside down near Hillsborough and Florida avenues, police said.
Betty Williams, 69, and Brittany McFarland, 20, died in separate crashes.
On Monday, Archiquette agreed to an open plea, meaning the judge could sentence him to the maximum, which would be life in prison.
McFarland's mother hopes he gets that. Several family members from each victims' family attended the hearing. They said they're glad there won't be a trial, but they're impatient for sentencing, scheduled for Feb. 11.
"I'm ready for him to go where he needs to be, which is away forever," said Rachelle McFarland, Brittany's mother.
"Because that's where my baby is."