Del Lynn Peshlakai had always wanted to own a motorcycle.

"She was really into Harleys," her older sister, Darnell Peshlakai, told a reporter Saturday.

But that dream never came to pass. Del Lynn Peshlakai, 19, and her sister Deshauna Peshlakai, 17, were killed in March 2010 when their parents' car was struck from behind by a pickup driven by James Ruiz, who police said had a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal driving limit.

"She never got to own a Harley, but I bet she's riding one now," Darnell Peshlakai said.

Her sister's love of motorcycles gave her mother, Darlene Peshlakai, the idea to have a bike run in memory of the sisters and to raise awareness of how drunken driving affects families.

More than 200 people rode into Santa Fe on motorcycles and a few three-wheelers Saturday afternoon as part of the second annual Angels vs. Drunk Drivers bike run. They started early in the morning at two locations in northwestern New Mexico — Farmington and Naschitti, where the Peshlakai family lives — meeting up in the parking lot of Casino Hollywood in San Felipe Pueblo. As a large group, they rode to the site of the crash on Cerrillos Road. Santa Fe police and firefighters blocked a lane of traffic to make more room for a short memorial service at the crash site near the traffic signal at Cristos Road.

"Some of them come from places like Colorado and Texas," said Peter Begay, an uncle of the victims. Begay said this is the first time the bike run came to Santa Fe. Last year's run took place in western New Mexico, he said.

The bikers parked along Cristos Road and walked over to the small, well-maintained shrine on Cerrillos Road. The shrine has crosses, flowers and miniature basketballs. At the time of the crash, the family was driving home from a basketball game at Santa Fe Indian School. The girls, and all their siblings, had played for Newcomb High School basketball teams. Del Lynn had played in a game that night before she died.

"We're a basketball family," Darnell Peshlakai told The New Mexican last year in the days following the tragedy.

On Saturday, there were pink and black helium balloons held down by weights, waiting to fly.

Many of the bikers and other participants wore T-shirts bearing a photograph of the smiling sisters on the front. "Forever Loved" the front of the shirts read. "'Brat' Deshauna and 'Baby Del.' "

The message on the back was "Peshlakai Angels. Please Don't Drink and Drive."

One biker, who identified himself only as Vince, said he rode in from Crystal, N.M., about an hour north of Gallup. "I'm just trying to spread the word and put an end to drinking and driving, and let people know what it does to other people and families," he said. "As families we can come together and act."

Gail Augustine, who rode her Harley from Farmington, said she is a friend of the Peshlakai family. "This was a sad experience for those girls," she said of the fatal crash.

After a brief greeting and prayer by Santa Fe Police Department Chaplain Jose Villegas and a song sung in Navajo language, organizers released the balloons. There was laughter when one bunch of balloons got tangled on a lamp post on the other side of Cerrillos Road and another on a fire truck that was blocking traffic for the service. A firefighter quickly scurried to the top of the truck to free the balloons.

The riders returned to their bikes and left as a group, with police escort, to Santa Fe Indian School for a meal.

Ruiz, 36, an Albuquerque resident, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and remains in the Santa Fe County jail, awaiting trial, in lieu of a $2 million cash-only bail bond. Police say he has five previous DWI arrests on his record. He also was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license.

A lawsuit filed by the Peshlakai family also is pending in state District Court. The victims' parents, David and Darlene Peshlakai, who were injured in the accident, are suing Ruiz as well as the Blue Corn Café & Brewery and associated corporations, including businessman Gerald Peters' corporation. Ruiz was drinking with friends at the restaurant shortly before the wreck. The state Department of Public Safety last year cited the restaurant and the waitress who served Ruiz.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.