VENTURA, Calif. —  An Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Pulp Fiction" has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol in a fatal January crash.

Roger Avary of Ojai was arraigned Friday in a court in Ventura.

Authorities say Avary's car hit a telephone pole in Ojai on Jan. 13. The crash injured his wife and killed passenger Andreas Zini, who was visiting from Italy.

The 43-year-old Avary has apologized for the accident. His lawyer has said the writer was grief-stricken over the death.

Avary and director Quentin Tarantino won the 1995 Academy Award for writing the screenplay of "Pulp Fiction." Avary also co-wrote the screenplay for last year's "Beowulf."

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Information from: Ventura County Star, http://venturacountystar.com/

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