VENTURA, Calif. - An Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Pulp Fiction,” accused of drunken driving after a weekend accident that killed a passenger visiting from Italy, apologized Monday.

Avary, 42, was driving early Sunday when his car spun out of control and hit a telephone pole in Ojai. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony drunken driving.

Killed in the crash was Andreas Zini, 34, a resident of Italy who was apparently visiting Avary and his wife, Gretchen, 40, according to the sheriff’s department. Gretchen Avary was seriously injured but is expected to survive, said Capt. Jerry Hernandez.