The state Senate has approved a bill that would mean longer prison sentences for drunk drivers who kill.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved the new crimes of aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault. If the bill is also approved by the state Assembly, aggravated vehicular homicide would carry up to 25 years in prison and aggravated vehicular assault would carry up to 15 years.

Long Island residents Neil and Jennifer Flynn pushed for the new charges after their daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Seven-year-old Katie Flynn was killed by Martin Heidgen, who was driving the wrong way on the Meadowbrook Parkway, in 2005. Flynn was a flower girl at a wedding hours before the accident. Limo driver Stanley Rabinowitz was also killed in the crash.

Heidgen was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.

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