SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Two years ago, a spectacular day -- not unlike today -- ended with two lives lost and others ruined following a deadly car accident on scenic Ocean Road in Narragansett.

Today, Brandy Graff, the 20-year-old Coventry woman responsible for the crash that killed two elderly sisters, was sentenced to serve 10 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions for her crimes that spring day. But first she offered her apologies to the court and the families of Theodora Mastracchio, 95, and Victoria Riccio, 86, whose car she hit head-on on April 20, 2005, after a day of drinking at the beach.

“I never thought my choices would ever hurt anyone but myself,” said Graff, wearing a girlish peach dress and white flats, her long dark hair tied back. “There isn’t a minute that passes that I don’t wish I made better choices that day.”

Graff was 18 when she and a 16-year-old friend drank at the beach before heading to a party on Desano Drive in Narragansett. Around 6 p.m. the Narragansett police got calls about a Mazda sedan driving erratically. Minutes later they found the car involved in a collision with a Lincoln driven by Mastracchio’s daughter, Karen Bucci, near the Spain restaurant. The women were taking in ocean views on their way home to East Greenwich after eating clam cakes and chowder.

Riccio was pronounced dead that night; Mastracchio died four days later.

Their family today described their hurt at the loss of two “beautiful,” “gentle,” “caring” and “loving” people.

“That day, my family and myself were given a life sentence of heartache and pain,” said Melissa Bucci, Bucci’s daughter. She told of her mother’s agony as she listened to her own mother’s gasping breaths and what would be some of her final words: “Is my Karen all right?”

Bruce Mastracchio, rising from a wheelchair to speak, spared no anger, calling Graff’s crimes “murder.” He worried the family would lose his mother’s house due to financial difficulties associated with the crash and referenced his sister’s injuries and continued pain. But, he acknowledged, his mother would want Graff to have a chance at life.

Graff, of 303 John Franklin Road, faced 5 to 10 years to serve for two counts of driving under the influence, death resulting, under a plea agreement reached in April between Asst. Atty. Gen. Craig V. Montecalvo and Graff’s lawyer, William J. Murphy, who is also speaker of the House of Representatives. Two other charges were dismissed.

Murphy asked today for 3 to 10 years to serve. In seeking leniency, he emphasized that an adult had provided the girls with alcohol, that drugs were found in her system, and a rape kit was performed on her following the accident.

“She doesn’t know what happened,” Murphy said, adding “she was trying to get out of the situation she was in.”

The police charged the 16-year-old with possession of narcotics, after officers allegedly found a bottle containing 72 pills of Alprazolam, a prescription anti-anxiety drug, and Baclofen, a muscle relaxant, at the scene. The matter was referred to Family Court. Graff today denied taking any drugs.

A student at the Community College of Rhode Island who is earning a 3.41 grade point average while working part time, Murphy noted Graff’s youth and remorse.

“This was an 18-year-old girl who made a bad decision when her parents were out of town,” he said.

Washington County Superior Court Judge Stephen Nugent accepted Montecalvo’s recommendation that Graff be sentenced to 15 years at the ACI, with 10 to serve and 5 years suspended with probation for two counts of driving under the influence, death resulting. In addition, upon release, she must perform 250 hours of community service, lose her license for 5 years and pay $5,000 in fines.

“Brandy Graff is not a bad person,” Nugent said. “She did a bad thing, and she has to suffer the consequences.”

He added: “Hopefully, the word will go out you drink you drive and you hurt someone you will be seriously punished – at least in this court.”

A tearful Graff told her parents she loved them as she was taken into custody.