Prosecutors yesterday charged an 18-year-old Waimanalo man with negligent homicide for a 2007 crash that killed two women in Waimanalo.

Police said Tyler Duarte was driving recklessly when the SUV he was driving slammed into a sedan, killing two cousins inside.

Duarte was charged as an adult yesterday after Family Court waived its jurisdiction over him; he was 17 at the time of the crash.

He was charged with two counts of first-degree negligent homicide and one count of failure to render aid resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

The charges stem from a collision on Jan. 20, 2007, on Kalaniana'ole Highway near Inoa'ole Street that killed Michelle Benevedes, 39, and Racquel Akau, 38.

Duarte allegedly was driving a 1997 Ford Explorer that collided with a 1990 Honda Accord driven by Benevedes that was turning onto Kalaniana'ole Highway from Inoa'ole Street about 9:45 p.m.

The impact pinned Benevedes' car between the SUV and a masonry wall, and both women were trapped inside the sedan.

Duarte was held last night at the police cellblock in lieu of $30,000 bail and will be taken to Circuit Court today.