By admin 
TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — A Tempe man changed his plea after prosecutors said he drove more than 150 mph while intoxicated and street racing before a crash that killed two passengers in 2023.
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Derek Gray, who was previously known as Derek Glasscock, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of manslaughter. He was originally facing second-degree murder charges.
On Nov. 25, 2023, Gray, 35, was racing another driver down Rural Road and reached 153 mph. He then lost control of his Ford Mustang, went airborne and crashed into a power pole and two palm trees just south of Broadway Road.
Investigators found that the Mustang was more than 9 feet in the air when it hit one of the palm trees.
Both of his passengers were thrown from the car. Jesse Ruiz, 32, died at the scene.
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Investigators said Maria Rangel, 31, was thrown 80 feet and found behind a building. She died at the hospital.
Police said Ruiz and Rangel were in a relationship and lived together.
Prosecutors said Gray admitted to drinking and that he should not have been driving.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23.
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