WAUSAU, WI  (WSAU)  -  The La Crosse man accused of killing his passenger after driving drunk and crashing will have a jury trial next year. 

21 -year-old Tyler Deal will have a jury trial starting March 18th, unless a plea deal is reached before that date. Deal is charged with homicide by drunken driving, homicide by negligent driving and two drug-related charges. Deal had a point-09 blood alcohol content and was under the influence of marijuana February 26th when he crashed into a utility pole along Highway V near Spencer. 22-year-old Paige Metz of Loyal was pronounced dead at the scene. He could spend 35 years in prison if convicted. Deal also has a pretrial conference scheduled for March 4th.