A Denham Springs man pleaded no contest Monday in state district court to one count of vehicular homicide.

Jason Scott Bennett, 33, was under the influence of methamphetamine, Oxycodone and amphetamines when a car he was driving on the Interstate 10 bridge hit a tow truck, causing the death of one of his passengers, Derrick Barton, 27, also of Denham Springs, in September 2012, prosecutor Tara Hawkins said.

Bennett told authorities he had his cruise control on and was traveling between 50 and 55 miles per hour as he headed west on the bridge around 4:20 a.m. on Sept. 24, 2012, according to the offense report. After reaching to set down a drink, he looked up and saw that the 2011 Dodge Caliber he was driving was about to hit a 1985 Ford F-350 tow truck, which was also traveling west, but was moving more slowly. Bennett attempted to avoid the truck, but the vehicles made contact and the Caliber began to spin.

Barton, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was decapitated.

The driver of the tow truck said he was going between 35 to 40 miles per hour as he traveled up the bridge because his vehicle was old and he was carrying a Chevrolet pickup truck.

Tests revealed that Bennett had drugs in his system, Hawkins said. He was indicted in April 2013 for vehicular homicide.

Judge Michael Canaday ordered a pre-sentence investigation before he sentences Bennett on Jan. 30.

Bennett faces from five to 30 years in prison — the first three to be served without the possibility of probation or parole — and a fine from $2,000 to $15,000.

Bennett, who is represented by Steve Coward, was scheduled to go to trial this week. He is free on $25,000 bond.(MGNonline)