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."