A Sag Harbor man was indicted on upgraded charges after he allegedly drove drunk and caused a crash that killed his passenger, whose body the suspect then dumped last summer, authorities said.
Sean Ludwick, 42, pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, speeding and various traffic offenses Monday at Suffolk County court. He previously pleaded not guilty to charges he was initially arrested for, including driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.
Southampton Town Police have said the Ludwick, a New York City real estate developer, was driving his Porsche on Rolling Hill Court East when he lost control of his car and crashed into a telephone pole at 2 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.
His passenger, 53-year-old Paul Hansen of Sag Harbor, was killed in the crash. Prosecutors said forensic evidence indicated that Ludwick removed the victim’s body from his car and drove away, leaving the remains within feet of Hansen’s driveway. Ludwick’s blood alcohol content was .18 percent four hours after the crash, authorities said.
Investigators found the mangled rims of the damaged Porsche left a trail of gouged pavement to Woodvale Street, approximately a quarter-mile from the crash, where police found Ludwick standing by his wrecked car when he was arrested, prosecutors said.
Ludwick is free on $1 million bond. Judge Fernando Camacho ordered him to surrender his passport.
