A car race in residential Mililani last year that killed a 17-year-old girl brought manslaughter charges yesterday against the two drivers.

Justin Amorin, 22, and Bernard G.K. DeCoito Jr., 23, also were indicted on charges of second-degree assault.

Amorin was the driver of a car that crashed into a tree on Lanikuhana Avenue at 9:21 p.m. Feb. 23, 2007, court records show. DeCoito was driving a second vehicle that was pursuing Amorin's red Volkswagen Jetta at speeds of 80 mph to 100 mph.

Killed in the crash was Gillian Badua, 17, a senior at Mililani High School.

Badua was DeCoito's girlfriend, although she was a passenger in the back seat of Amorin's car, according to court records.

Seriously injured was Gavin Watson, 17, a passenger in the front seat of Amorin's vehicle.

The mothers of Badua and Watson were present in court yesterday when the grand jury issued the indictment.

Michaele Badua called the charges "long-awaited" and had this advice for young drivers: "Don't speed. You're not invincible."

Marcie Watson said her son, now 19, may never fully recover from his injuries, which have left him with "partial paralysis."

Badua, standing beside Watson, said the tragedy "brought a lot of heartbreak to both our families."

"People just need to think about what they're doing" when they get behind the wheel of a car, she said.

According to witness statements, the four young people were racing to Decoito's house when Amorin lost control of his car.

DeCoito, following behind, slowed down at the scene of the crash but did not stop.

Badua called DeCoito's actions "cowardly."

"You don't leave your friends after you've seen them hurt," she said.

Neither defendant has a prior criminal record, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nora Garrod said in court yesterday.

If convicted of both charges, the defendants could face up to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

At Garrod's request, Circuit Judge Derrick Chan ordered bench warrants for their arrests and set bail at $150,000 for each defendant.