Police: DUI driver killed sisters, 10 and 19, on the Boulevard

A Roxborough man who was driving drunk on Roosevelt Boulevard on Saturday night and sped up to beat a traffic light struck and killed a 19-year-old woman and her 10-year-old sister who were trying to cross the street, police said.

Kenneth Ruch, 48, of the 8100 block of Henry Avenue, has been charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of intoxicants, involuntary manslaughter, and related charges in connection with the deaths of Kimberly Phillips, the older sister, and Loraya Braxton, both of the 6000 block of Large Street.

Shortly before 11:42 p.m., the sisters attempted to cross the Boulevard near their home. They were walking east against the light in a crosswalk, police said.

Ruch, who was driving a 2011 Jeep Wrangler southbound, saw the light change as he approached the intersection with Large, which is on an uphill grade, police said.

Ruch swerved into the left lane to "beat the light" and struck Phillips and Loraya, police said. The impact sent the sisters' bodies 150 to 200 feet, according to authorities.

A leg of Phillips' was severed. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:49 p.m. Loraya was taken to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where she was pronounced dead at 12:26 a.m.

Ruch drove off but was stopped a short time later by officers and taken into custody, police said.