Marysville,CA : Driver pleads no contest in Highway 70 crash that killed Yuba City cousins on January, Tuesday 30th 2018

A man accused of drinking and driving in a crash that killed two Yuba City cousins on Highway 70 south of Oroville pleaded no contest, according to court documents.

Marc Andrews, 47, of Oroville appeared Tuesday in Butte County Superior Court and pleaded no contest to a felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to the documents.

Andrews also admitted to an enhancement alleging he caused the death of more than one person, as well as special allegations that he twice before has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.

A judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 9. Andrews faces the possibility of 16 years to life in state prison because of his prior DUI convictions.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Andrews was westbound on Palermo Road about 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19 when he failed to stop or slow down at a stop sign and smashed into a Toyota Echo traveling south on Highway 70.

Ryan Jensen, 18, and Mason Oakes, 20, were killed.

According to a GoFundMe page set up to help with funeral costs, Jensen and Oakes were cousins, best friends and “shared a love of life, family, spontaneous wrestling matches, and all things motocross.”

Jensen graduated from River Valley High School, and Oakes graduated from Springville High School in Utah.

Andrews suffered a dislocated ankle in the crash and was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors allege Andrews had a blood alcohol level of 0.31 percent. The legal limit in California is 0.08 percent. He was accused of driving 100 mph five seconds before he collided with the Toyota, and 55 mph at the moment of impact.

According to court records, Andrews has two prior misdemeanor convictions of driving under the influence of alcohol, in 2014 and 2016.

Andrews remains in custody.

Andrews initially pleaded not guilty in December before changing his plea Tuesday during a court date set for a preliminary hearing.

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Driver pleads no contest in Highway 70 crash that killed Yuba City cousins