By LOHR McKINSTRY
ELIZABETHTOWN — A Willsboro man accused of causing his passenger's death in a one-car crash in Essex pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday morning.
Ryan R. Bruno, 25, was indicted by a county grand jury for felony second-degree vehicular manslaughter and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 percent.
Keshia B. Pierce, 23, of Willsboro, a front-seat passenger in Bruno's car, was killed on impact in the 4:30 a.m. crash on Jan. 1.
An autopsy determined cause of death was multiple blunt-force trauma that included severe head injuries.
Bruno was arraigned before Judge Richard Meyer, who released him on his own recognizance with conditions. Bruno must report to the County Probation Department once a week and must reside with his parents in Willsboro while the case is pending.
Bruno, who is represented by County Public Defender Livingston Hatch, had previously been released on $5,000 cash bail.
The next hearing in the case is set for Oct. 13. County District Attorney Julie Garcia told the court her office is ready for trial.
Bruno was driving on Catholic Church Road near Route 22 in Essex when he lost control of his car, which then ran off the road and flipped over into a tree that smashed the vehicle's roof.
Police allege that Bruno was driving his 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse too fast for wet and slushy road conditions at the time of the crash.
Police said Pierce was a friend of Bruno's sister and that he was giving her a ride.
A blood test at the hospital after the crash showed Bruno had a 0.11 blood-alcohol level, police said.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
