HALFMOON — State Police say the driver who caused the Northway accident that killed two Shenendehowa students Saturday night may face charges after he tested positive for alcohol at the scene.

During a press conference Sunday afternoon, State Police said their investigation indicates 22-year-old Dennis Drue of Clifton Park drove his 2004 Volvo across three lanes and hit a 2004 Ford Explorer being driven by Shenendehowa senior Chris Stewart.

Stewart's vehicle rolled several times into a median one mile north of the Twin Bridges. State Police said Drue tested positive at the scene for alcohol on a breath sensor test. But a blood test conducted on Drue at a hospital after the crash will be used to determine his exact blood-alcohol level, including whether it was above the legal limit, law enforcement officials said.

"It is anticipated that charges will be leveled against Mr. Drue which equate to vehicular manslaughter ... and that is coupled with the fact our investigation reveals that there is alcohol involvement," said State Police Capt. Steven James. He added that if Drue's blood-alcohol level is below the legal limit of 0.08, "then we would be looking, more or less, at criminally negligent homicide, but we are not there yet, further testing needs to be done."

The speed of Drue's vehicle was a factor in the accident, James said. No charges have been filed but State Police said their investigation is ongoing.

Stewart died in the crash, along with Shen softball player and senior Deanna Rivers, who was sitting in the backseat and was ejected from the vehicle. Bailey Wind, a member of the Shaker High School diving team, sat in the front passenger seat and was seriously injured, including suffering broken bones, as well as backseat passenger Shenendehowa student Matt Hardy, also a member of the football team. Hardy was partially ejected, police said.

The students were returning from a Siena College, State University at Albany basketball game around 10:19 p.m. when they were driving in the right, northbound lane just north of the Twin Bridges. Police said Stewart had a clean driving record and that witnesses indicated he was operating his vehicle safely at the time it was struck.

Drue's vehicle moved from the passing lane into the middle lane, behind another vehicle, and then shifted into the right lane behind Stewart's vehicle. Witness accounts and an accident reconstruction indicates that Drue's vehicle then struck the rear of Stewart's vehicle at a high rate of speed, State Police said.

The collision caused Stewart to lose control of his SUV, which careened across the Northway and tumbled into the median.

The median in that area has been undergoing construction recently. Drue's vehicle came to a rest on the shoulder on the east side of the Northway. Drue suffered head lacerations and is being treated at Ellis Hospital. State Police said Drue has a record of driving infractions including speeding and a license revocation, but no criminal history.

Shenendehowa school officials had a crisis team mobilized Sunday morning, and students were seen arriving to talk to counselors and other students at the High School East campus. At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson said that the school will dedicate space for a memorial, since they do not want students going to the scene on the Northway. A Facebook page was created Sunday to honor Rivers, a page that 673 people had already viewed.

The superintendent and principal met with the families, according to the school district's website. Counselors will be available starting at noon Sunday at the High School East campus.

Friends and family gathered at Rivers' home Sunday afternoon, and declined comment.