A Garrison man faces the next 15 years in one of America's most notorious prisons after he was sentenced in San Francisco Superior Court.

Builder, Kevin McGuinness was twice over the limit when he crashed his Toyota truck into a taxi, killing the driver and one passenger.

McGuinness was arrested in 2005 after he drove through a red light and crashed into the taxi at the corner of San Francisco's Broadway and Webster Streets.

Taxi driver, Zareh Soghikian (76), and 21-year-old student Tyler Brown were killed in the crash. Mr Brown's half-brother was also in the vehicle and he was treated for cuts and bruises, while a third passenger suffered a broken leg and hip.

Following the crash, McGuinness was refused bail. He appeared in court on Thursday last for sentencing.

Hearing the facts of the case, a presiding judge ordered that McGuinness would serve the maximum term with no chance of parole for 15 years.

He will serve two terms of 15 years concurrently for two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. He begins his sentence immediately.

McGuinness now faces life behind bars at the notorious San Quentin prison in north San Francisco.

Court records reveal McGuinness had three previous drink-driving convictions in two American states - the most recent in San Francisco in August 2001.

Earlier convictions were recorded in Sonoma County, California, in 1996 and 1997.

He was sentenced to three years probation for the first case, and attended an anti-drink programme.

McGuinness was put on probation once again following the second case and ordered to enrol for a treatment programme, which he completed in 1999.

In August 2001, after finishing his probation, McGuinness was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for driving under the influence.

He was sentenced to home detention and again put on probation.