05/09/2008

Associated Press

A Roseburg teenager who was driving a car that crashed, killing two passengers, faces manslaughter and drunken driving charges.

Police say 16-year-old Jacob Gonzalez surrendered Wednesday after he was indicted in the March deaths of 17-year-old Rachel Merrell and 15-year-old Anthony Nickles. A fourth teenager, 16-year-old Sarah Sitton, was injured.

Court records say the teens had been drinking at a party in Melrose.

Sitton told police Gonzalez was driving Merrell's car and hit a power pole and tree. Court records said his blood alcohol level was .15 percent

Gonzalez was 15 then and did not have a driver's license or a permit. He was hospitalized several days. Under state law, a manslaughter count carries a minimum sentence of six years.