NHL all-star Dany Heatley has been charged with vehicular homicide by Atlanta police.

The 22-year-old forward for the Atlanta Thrashers was driving his Ferrari last Monday, when it left the road and hit a brick wall, fatally injuring teammate Dan Snyder.

Snyder, 25, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered brain injuries in the accident.

Dany Heatley (file photo)

Police say Heatley was likely driving about 130 km/h down a residential street in Atlanta when he lost control of his Ferrari. The sports car was split in two by the impact of the crash.

Police have now formally charged Heatley with first-degree vehicular homicide.

Sgt. John Quigly of the Atlanta police says Heatley was formally charged Monday afternoon, at the hospital where he is recovering from his injuries.

Dan Snyder

If found guilty, Heatley could face between three and 15 years in jail. He is already facing a number of other charges related to the accident.

Police are still waiting for lab results to determine whether or not alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Snyder's teammates and coaches are mourning his death and so, too, are people in his home town, Elmira, Ont.

"To me Dany was the type of player if I had a hockey club I wouldn't mind having about 15 of them on it, just because I could probably work the living daylights out of the opposition, just by sheer heart and desire," said Bob Cummings, coach of the Elmira Sugar Kings.

Don Waddell, the general manager of the Thrashers, says the team will meet Tuesday to discuss the recent events.

"The best thing I can say about Dan Snyder is I don't know anyone who didn't like him, and that says a lot," said Waddell.

Snyder played four seasons of junior hockey for Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League before signing with the Thrashers as a free agent in 1999.

He had 10 goals and four assists in 36 games for Atlanta last season, his first in the NHL.

Heatley scored a team-record 41 goals with the Thrashers last season and was MVP of the all-star game.