Man begins sentence in crash that killed Miami Heat dancer in 2010

Mario Careaga turns himself in 3 years after DUI manslaughter conviction

Mario Careaga has begun his 15-year prison sentence after being convicted of DUI manslaughter in the death of Miami Heat dancer Nancy Lopez-Ruiz in 2010.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A man whose drunken-driving crash claimed the life of a Miami Heat dancer has begun a 15-year prison sentence.

Mario Careaga, 49, turned himself in Monday to the Broward County main jail.

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Careaga was convicted of DUI manslaughter three years ago and had been free on bond pending appeal. He lost his appeal earlier this year.

Authorities said Nancy Lopez-Ruiz, 22, was riding her motorcycle on a Fort Lauderdale street in September 2010 when Careaga struck her with his Mercedes-Benz. She died at the scene.

Nancy Lopez-Ruiz had just signed to dance with the NBA's Miami Heat when she was killed in September 2010.

Prosecutors said Careaga had a blood-alcohol content of 0.24 percent. The state legal limit is 0.08 percent.

Lopez-Ruiz had just signed to dance with the NBA's Miami Heat when she was killed.


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Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.

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