DURHAM, N.H. (AP) – A University of New Hampshire freshman accused of striking and killing another student while driving drunk was arraigned Monday on an upgraded charge of negligent homicide.

Kevin Whittaker, 19, of Nashua, originally was charged with aggravated drunken driving and conduct after an accident.

Police said he drove off after he hit Richard Hegerich, 20, of Hanover, Mass., as the sophomore crossed Main Street in Durham on Nov. 21.

Durham District Court sent the case to Strafford County Superior Court for trial. Meanwhile, the court declined a bail request to keep Whittaker from attending classes, saying that would be up to the university.

According to court documents, Whittaker had a blood alcohol content of .16 and admitted smoking marijuana before the accident.

“He said he was drunk and he shouldn’t have gotten into the car because his headlight was out,” assistant county prosecutor Sally Struble told the court.

Police said investigators confiscated Whittaker’s and his girlfriend’s cell phones after he was arrested. The girlfriend went to police and said Whittaker called her and said he had killed someone.

When Hegerich’s body was found, he was without shoes. One was found 70 feet away, as was a baseball hat and a white sock, police said.

Whittaker was stopped a short time later when a police officer noticed the 1995 Dodge Stratus had a broken headlight.

Police said Whittaker told them he was aware he felt a thump and Sgt. David Holstock testified that Whittaker told him “he saw him (Hegerich) go up over the right front of the vehicle.”

According to court documents, the passenger side of the car was dented and blood was found on the vehicle.