A 24-year-old man admitted Monday that he was under the influence of marijuana when he caused a crash that resulted in the death of a child.

Matthew Murray Kewitt appeared before District Judge G. Todd Baugh and pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and negligent vehicular assault for the March 7, 2008, wreck near the intersection of Central Avenue and Florine Lane.

Kewitt was driving a pickup truck at 7 a.m. when he suddenly turned across oncoming traffic and struck a car driven by 19-year-old Alyssa Kline, who was seventh months pregnant. Kline was seriously injured, and her baby was delivered by emergency Cesarean section. The child, Ryeli Kline-Embry, died nine days after the crash.

During his court appearance, Kewitt answered questions from his attorney, Michael Moses, about the crash. Kewitt acknowledged that he had ingested marijuana the night before and into early morning, admitting that the marijuana diminished his ability to drive safely.

Kewitt also said he failed to clear frost from the entire windshield of his truck, limiting his vision as he drove. Kewitt was on his way to work at Duke's Concrete Construction Co., which owned the truck he was driving.

The truck swerved across a double yellow line on Central Avenue and hit a Toyota Celica driven by Kline. Kewitt was not injured.

Three months after the crash, Kline's mother filed a civil lawsuit against Kewitt and his employer, alleging negligence and malicious conduct. The lawsuit is pending, and a trial date has been scheduled for May 2010.

Kewitt's criminal trial was scheduled to begin on Sept.8. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that Kewitt receive a sentence for vehicular homicide of 15 years with the state Department of Corrections with 10 years suspended and a $10,000 fine. The agreement calls for a suspended 10-year prison sentence for the negligent-vehicular-assault charge, and Kewitt will be ordered to pay restitution.

Deputy County Attorney David Carter said Kline and her family were consulted about the terms of the plea agreement and approved of the recommendations to be made to the judge. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Dec. 14. Kewitt remains free on a previously posted bond of $25,000.

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