A Somerville man has been indicted on two counts of motor vehicle homicide after he allegedly drove under the influence and crashed his vehicle, resulting in the death of two teenage girls, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public.

Kenneth Belew, 21, of Somerville, was indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury today on charges of motor vehicle homicide by operating under the influence of liquor (2 counts) and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Belew will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on July 6.

“This defendant is alleged to have driven under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit, while recklessly driving erratically and at a high rate of speed along a public highway,” District Attorney Leone said. “This defendant’s alleged actions resulted in killing two young girls and injuring three passengers. Impaired driving is a serious public safety concern that can have life changing consequences, as is alleged to be the case here.”

According to authorities, on April 21, the defendant and a friend met up with a group of people at a house in Somerville after allegedly drinking alcohol at a local bar.  At approximately 3:15 am, the defendant left the house with five people, including the two deceased victims, to go to a restaurant located on McGrath Highway. The two deceased victims sat in the backseat on two of the other passengers’ laps. The fifth passenger sat in the front passenger side seat. The defendant left the house and began traveling at a high rate of speed. When the defendant reached McGrath Highway, he allegedly continued to drive at a high rate of speed and drove through a red stop light. At that time, three of the passengers seated in the car put on their seatbelts and asked the defendant to slow down. The two victims remained seated on the passengers’ laps and did not have seatbelts on.

Investigators have opined that the defendant sped up while traveling southbound in the right lane on Route 28 and reached an extremely high rate of speed before losing control of the vehicle.  During the resulting impact, the two deceased victims were thrown towards the passenger side of the vehicle and were partially ejected.

Responding officers observed an odor of alcohol coming from the defendant when he spoke. They also observed that the defendant’s speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. His blood alcohol level was determined to be a .17, more than twice the legal limit.

Mayara Alves, 16, of Everett, was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the crash.  The defendant and the four surviving victims were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital.  Isabela DaSilva, 16, of Somerville, died on April 23, as a result of the injuries she sustained in the crash.  The three additional occupants of the vehicle where treated for their injuries and later released.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Nicole Allain. The Victim Witness Advocate is Danielle DeMeo.