New Canaan Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Negligent Homicide Charge

A New Canaan teen charged with killing a Newtown man following a motor vehicle accident on the Merritt Parkway last year pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent homicide on Friday, the Danbury News Times reports.

In April 2012, Alexandra Orteig, 19, allegedly lost control of her Lexus while she was driving south on the parkway, near Exit 36, and struck a Ford pickup truck driven by Scott Getzinger, 46. Getzinger, who worked in Hollywood, was conscious after the accident, but later succumbed to his injuries at Stamford Hospital. 

According to the News Times, Orteig told police she was in the right lane and looked over her shoulder to switch into the left lane. While she did that, the car went off the pavement. 

Orteig's 17-year-old female passenger then yelled at her, causing the driver to overcompensate and crash into the median. Orteig's car became airborne and crashed head-on into Getzinger's vehicle.

The two girls were taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries. Orteig allegedly had THC, the active chemical in marijuana, in her system at the time of the accident.

Orteig is expected to return to court next month, the News Times reports.