CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The driver in the DUI wreck that killed a Clarksville couple and seriously injured two others on Guthrie Highway in 2019 was sentenced to 34 years in prison Tuesday.

Miguel Ruiz Matiaz, 38, of Elkton, Kentucky, appeared in court before Judge William Goodman.

The sentencing stems from a fatal wreck on Sept. 30, 2019. Matiaz rear-ended a car on U.S. Highway 79 near Hampton Station Road in Montgomery County, killing Suthun “Foo” Subhawong, 69, who sustained fatal injuries and died immediately, and his wife, Kay Eileen Subhawong, 64, who died in the hospital a week later on Oct. 7, 2019.

Also in the car were former CMCSS Schools Director David Baker and his wife, retired teacher Nina Baker. They were critically injured but survived the wreck.

Initially, Matiaz faced 14 charges: two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, two counts of felony DUI, one charge of resisting arrest, two charges of vehicular homicide and one count of speeding.

In March, Matiaz entered an open guilty plea on five of the 14 charges: two counts of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and one count of DUI fifth offense.

The rest of the charges were dismissed.

According to court records, Matiaz was sentenced to 17 years each on both counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication to be served consecutively. On the two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, Matiaz was sentenced to five years each. The aggravated vehicular assault charges are both to be served consecutively, but concurrently with the first count of vehicular homicide by intoxication. On the final count of DUI fifth offense, Matiaz was sentenced to five years to be served concurrently to count one of vehicular homicide by intoxication.

Before the fatal wreck in 2019, Matiaz was convicted of several DUIs, making this his alleged 5th DUI. This made the counts of vehicular assault aggravated offenses and the DUI charges all felonies.

Records indicate he was convicted on two in Robertson County – in October 2009 and in March 2010 – one in Montgomery County in December 2010 and one in Titusville, Florida, in October 2014.

Clarksville Now has reached out to District Attorney Karen Willis, who prosecuted the case, and Matiaz’ attorney John Parker for comment.