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A 21-year-old man who killed two people in a crash in downtown Calgary last year was sentenced Friday to four-and-a-half years (less 45 days for time served) in prison.

Ali Montoya will also be prohibited from driving a vehicle for five years when he’s out of custody.

Both the Crown and defence had suggested the four-and-a-half-year sentence handed down by Chief Justice Neil Wittman.

In his decision, Chief Justice Neil Wittman wrote, “If the Court thought a more severe sentence would better achieve sentencing principles and objectives, it would impose it. Sadly, general deterrence, when it comes to drinking and driving, has not to date proven to prevent the carnage on our roads.”

“To give someone five years or seven years or ten years, would not reduce the amount of drinking and driving on the streets that’s the problem,” defence lawyer Alain Hepner said.

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Montoya was driving a Cadillac Escalade on Macleod Trail at around 2 a.m. on May 2, 2015, when he ran a red light in the intersection of 12 Avenue S.E., hitting a Honda Civic and a taxi.

Amritpal Kharbanda and Jillian Lavallee. Global News

The driver of the taxi, 46-year-old Amritpal Kharbanda, and his passenger, 25-year-old Jillian Lavallee, were both killed. The driver of the Civic suffered serious injuries.

READ MORE: Father of two and young woman killed in multi-vehicle crash in the Beltline

Montoya was originally charged with impaired driving causing death and two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm. However, in May, he pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal negligence causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

The past president of the Calgary chapter of MADD said tougher prison sentences would be a start to curbing drinking and driving.

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“It needs to be something that people stop and go ‘Ya the potential is there that I’m going to go to jail for ten years’,” Tracy Franklin said.

Montoya admitted to speeding and running multiple red lights before hitting the taxi. He had a blood alcohol of .11, over the legal limit of .08.

READ MORE: ‘I’m so going to jail’ – Accused in fatal cabbie crash told police

With files from David Boushy, Melissa Gilligan and Jill Croteau