This is one mess even the Wolf might not be able to clean up.
Oscar-winning Pulp Fiction cowriter Roger Avary was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter and felony drunk driving, after losing control of his car and crashing, leaving one of his passengers dead.
The 42-year-old writer-director, who partnered with former video store buddy Quentin Tarantino to pen the 1994 neonoir blockbuster, was behind the wheel when the single-car accident occurred in Ojai, California, after midnight, according to a statement from the Ventura County Sheriff Department.
The collision killed Andreas Zini, a 34-year-old Italian man who was visiting the Avary family in the Southern California resort town, about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Zini was cut from the mangled car by firefighters and rushed to Ventura County Medical Center. But he died on the operating table of "blunt force chest and abdominal injuries," according to the county medical examiner.
The force of the crash launched Avary's 40-year-old wife, Gretchen, from the vehicle. She is listed in stable condition at Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
Avary, who most recently cowrote the screenplay and served as executive producer on Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf, was booked into Ventura County Jail and released hours later on $50,000 bail.
"Roger wishes to publicly convey his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased," publicist Julie Polkes said in a statement. "Words cannot express how sorry he is, and this tragic accident will always haunt him."
Arraignment has been scheduled for Friday.