VALPARAISO | An 18-year-old pleaded not guilty Friday during her first appearance in adult court on charges of driving drunk earlier this summer and causing a crash that resulted in the death of her close friend.

Alysha Ramos was 17 at the time of the June 1 crash and when she was waived from juvenile to adult court. Her 18th birthday on July 25 was cited as the reason the adult system would be better suited to meet her needs and provide appropriate consequences if she fails to comply.

Ramos, who was joined in court by defense attorney Bob Harper, declined the opportunity to ask questions of Porter Superior Judge Bill Alexa.

Deputy Prosecutor Mike Drenth read the seven counts against her, including felony counts of reckless homicide, drunken driving causing death, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and driving drunk causing serious bodily injury. She also was charged with two misdemeanor drunken driving counts and a charge of consuming alcohol as a minor.

Alexa set a Jan. 12 trial in the case, with preliminary hearings Oct. 24 and Dec. 12.

The charges stem from an early morning crash June 1 on County Road 1400 North, west of County Road 400 East, that resulted in the death of passenger Alisha Purnick, 17, of Valparaiso.

Police said Ramos, who was living in Westville with her boyfriend at the time, was westbound and looked down to close her phone, at which time Purnick yelled for her to pay attention before the vehicle left the road.

After the crash, Ramos asked responding residents to call for help, then she flagged down a passing motorist and left the scene, police said. A family acquaintance later returned her to the scene, and police said she had a blood-alcohol concentration twice the legal limit.