‘Pulp Fiction’ screenwriter pleads over car death

Italian man died when Roger Avary's car hit telephone pole

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updated 6:41 p.m. ET Dec. 14, 2008

VENTURA, California - 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, California, 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.

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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."