HAUPPAUGE - A Smithtown High School senior pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a nine count indictment charging him with criminal negligent homicide and other crimes in connection with the fatal crash that claims the lives of three people on Jericho Turnpike last October.  Steven Badke Jr. was driving too fast when lost control of his 2002 Civic and collided with a minivan in the oncoming lane.

Badke’s passengers Michael Western of 4 Weston Lane, Smithtown and Daniel DiStefano, of 93 Shepard Lane, Nesconset, both 17, were pronounced dead at the scene.  A 13-year-old passenger, John Aruanno, in the minivan died the next day at Stony Brook University Medical Center.

District Attorney Thomas Spota said the top charge in the indictment, criminal negligent homicide, is a felony punishable by one and one-third to four years in prison.

Badke is charged with three counts of criminal negligent homicide and one count of third degree assault, reckless driving, two counts of speeding, crossing over solid yellow traffic lines and failing to keep right.