A Spanish man involved in a traffic crash in Cuba that killed a prominent dissident may be allowed to serve out his four-year sentence in his country under a work release program.

The 27-year-old Angel Carromero was sentenced in October in a July 22 crash in eastern Cuba that killed pro-democracy activist Oswaldo Paya and fellow dissident Harold Cepero.

Carromero, a regional youth leader of the governing Popular Party, was driving the car. The dissidents were seated in the back.

Spanish prison officials said Thursday that Carromero, currently imprisoned northwest of Madrid after being returned to Spain on Dec. 29, could be placed in a work release program in the coming days under the country's rules for people convicted of vehicular manslaughter.