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NH man charged in death of friend in car crash

PEPPERELL, Mass. (AP) - A 19-year-old New Hampshire man has pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide following a late-night crash in Massachusetts that killed a good friend.

Police say David Riendeau, of Brookline, N.H., was drunk and speeding when he crashed car into a utility pole at 2:45 a.m. Friday in Pepperell, Mass. The crash killed 20-year-old Kendall Van Schoick, also from Brookline.

Riendeau pleaded not guilty to motor-vehicle homicide, operating under the influence and other charges later Friday in Ayer District Court. Another court hearing is scheduled this Thursday.

Authorities says Riendeau had a blood alcohol content of just over 0.08 percent, and that he told police he had three beers earlier that night.