Wichita ? A judge refused to go along with the recommended sentence in a plea agreement reached by a man who admitted he was drunk when he caused a car accident that killed a young woman and critically injured five other people.

Louis Kebert, 45, who had two prior convictions for driving under the influence, pleaded guilty in April to second-degree murder and five counts of aggravated battery. At a hearing Wednesday, he was sentenced to the maximum prison term of 23 years.

The plea agreement called for just more than 17 years, and Kebert’s lawyer, John Stang, suggested a lesser sentence might even be appropriate.

“Mr. Kebert intended to drink,” Stang said. “He intended to drive. He did not intend to hurt anyone.”

Kebert’s speeding Porsche slammed into the back of two cars in March 2005 on a Wichita street. One burst into flames, and Paige Estes, 23, was killed, while her husband, Jared, and four other people were critically injured.

Jared Estes testified Wednesday about his injuries and what his life has been like since the crash. Talking about his wife and urging the longest possible sentence for Kebert, Estes said, “Her life was worth the absolute maximum and a million times that.”

Kebert also was critically injured in the accident.

Sedgwick County District Judge Joe Kisner said although Kebert did not specifically intend to kill or injure anyone, “all the prior acts were intentional.”

“I can’t image a more extreme violation or a more terrible result,” he said before ordering that the sentences on all six charges run consecutively.