ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) - A rare occurrence in a St. Johnsbury courtroom on Tuesday as a Lyndon man pleaded guilty to a deadly DUI crash that killed his friend last week.

The crash happened late Friday night on Mountain Road in Burke. Police say Luke Dudas, 21, had been driving at nearly two times the legal limit blood alcohol limit when he lost control, hit several trees, and flipped his car.

His passenger, 21-year-old Whit Steen, was ejected from the car and died at the hospital.

Court paperwork states Dudas had told police someone else had been driving the car and fled moments later. Witnesses who saw the crash said nobody ran from the car. Police also found multiple open containers of alcohol in the car.

During his arraignment, Dudas pleaded guilty to one count of gross negligen

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