A Big Island grand jury has indicted a Hilo man in the traffic death of a 25-year-old Kea'au man earlier this year.

Nivan N. Agres, 23, was allegedly driving a 1995 Honda four-door sedan east on Kalaniana'ole Street at high speeds shortly before 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the right side of the road and struck a utility pole, police said.

The driver and a passenger were both pinned in the car and had to be extricated by fire department crews. The passenger, David H. Young, died hours later of injuries suffered in the crash, police said.

The July 9 indictment charges Agres with first-degree negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, operating a vehicle after his license was suspended or revoked for drunken driving, and driving without insurance.

If convicted on the negligent homicide count, Agres faces up to 10 years in prison.