Man pleads guilty to fatal VB crash

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The man charged as a teen with drunk driving and involuntary manslaughter pleaded guilty to those charges in court Tuesday.

Police say Christopher Sell was the driver in an accident that killed his 19-year-old passenger, William L. Keipe, in Pungo in October 2011.

According to court documents, Sell, then 19; Keipe; Timothy Watters; and Albert Bonney were all at Bonney's home before leaving in Sell's vehicle for two local bars. The group went to Kelly's Tavern and to a bar called Diesel, where Sell used a fake ID to buy drinks. He used his own debit card to pay his tab. 

After leaving the bar, Sell drove the group to a 7-Eleven. After leaving the convenience store, Sell failed to negotiate a curve in the 3700 block of West Neck Road. His 2000 Nissan Xterra went into a ditch and struck a series of trees on the passenger side.

Keipe died on impact while Watters suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Medics treated Sell at the scene for minor injuries. Court documents state that Bonney left the scene after checking himself for injuries and returned home.

Sell's blood alcohol limit was between 0.12 and 0.135.

Sell pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, DUI, purchase/possession of alcohol by a person under 21 and display of a fictitious license.

He will be sentenced May 21.