A grand jury has indicted Omar Syed Afzal, 18, of Mineola, for two counts of manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree and one count of driving while impaired by drugs, according to Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon.

Afzal was arrested July 29 for allegedly causing the deaths of Cristina Caroleo and Alison Reilly on Dec. 23, 2003, in a car accident on Nassau Blvd.

According to Dillon, "The indictment alleges that Afzal was under the influence of drugs while operating a 1998 Ford Explorer northbound on Nassau Blvd. when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree in the vicinity of Merillon Avenue before rolling over and ejecting two rear passengers. One of the passengers, Alison Reilly, 15, of Garden City, was pronounced dead at the scene while the other, Cristina Caroleo, a 16-year-old female, was taken to Winthrop Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries Jan. 26."

Afzal and two other female passengers were taken to North Shore Hospital where they were treated and released. Afzal will be arraigned Tuesday, Aug. 24, before Judge Jeffrey S. Brown in county court. If convicted, Afzal could face 5 to 15 years in prison.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.