Swampscott Man Charged In August Shuttle Van Crash Near Logan Airport

BOSTON (CBS) -- A Swampscott man was indicted Monday in a fatal August crash involving an airport shuttle van that left two people dead.

Steven Birenbaum, 27, was charged with two counts each of manslaughter by motor vehicle and motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said Monday.

Prosecutors say Birenbaum was driving his Subaru Legacy up to 80 mph around 1 a.m. on Rte. 90 on August 31 when he hit the back of a Hampton Inn van shuttling passengers to and from Logan Airport.

State Police said Birenbaum's Subaru exited the tunnel and crashed into the rear of the bus, which had just entered 1A north from the airport.

The collision forced the bus to veer to its left, hit the Jersey barrier, and then move back to its right, hitting the right side barrier.

Joseph Rodriguez, 59, and Sandra Arreola, 56, both of El Paso, Texas and both riding on the van, were killed.

The shuttle driver and two passengers were also injured.

A blood test showed Birenbaum's blood-alcohol content to be .15, nearly twice the legal limit of .08.

Birenbaum is due to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court Nov. 28.