A New Jersey man, who was involved in a car crash on February 8, 2013, has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and driving under the influence as his passenger was killed during the fatal crash.

According to Ocean County prosecutors, 18-year-old Connor Hanifin is scheduled to be sentenced by January 23 and he will be serving 43 months in the state's prison. Hanifin was said to be driving under the influence while he was with his best friend Francis Duddy, who was also his teammate on the football team of Monsignor Donovan High School located in Toms River, New Jersey.

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Prosecutors noted that Hanifin may have gone over the speed limit and lost control of his car, causing the two to collide with a tree near Yellow Bank Road. According to reports, alcoholic beverage containers were also found in Hanifin's vehicle and when a blood sample from the car was tested for blood-alcohol level, it exceeded the limit imposed by the state.

According to the prosecutor's office, the accident happened at 1:36 in the morning and shortly after police were called to respond to the scene where the 2006 Honda Civic had crashed. According to officials, the crash was so extreme that the roof of the car was against the tree while the trunk of the vehicle was pointed upward.

Hanifin suffered serious injuries and had to be extracted from the vehicle with the help of firefighters. Both young men were rushed to the hospital where Duddy's injuries were deemed more severe and in need of immediate treatment.

Officials released a statement saying that the accident happened only minutes away from Hanifin and Duddy's homes, although it remains unclear if the two were returning home or headed to another location at the time of the incident.

TagsNew Jersey, Tom Rivers, Connor Hanifin, Francis Duddy, car crash, vehicular accident, driving under the influece, 43 months in jail, accident, crash, Vehicle, homicide