Belcourt man pleads not guilty in fatal 2010 crash

RUGBY, N.D. (AP) — A Belcourt man with five drunken driving convictions has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and reckless endangerment in a fatal crash that authorities allege he caused while driving drunk again.

The Grand Forks Herald reports (http://bit.ly/K1oE9K ) that 37-year-old Linus Bercier III faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on both charges.

Bercier is accused in a crash on Nov. 1, 2010, that led to the death of a relative, 46-year-old Michael Bercier. Authorities allege that Linus Bercier was driving more than 100 mph on state Highway 3 north of Rugby and had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit for driving.

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Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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