More details emerge in Tuesday crash that killed three local teens
August 6th, 2009 by Daphne DuretBeer cans were were found in an SUV and on the scene of what authorities say may be an alcohol-related crash that killed three teens earlier this week.
See more photosan impromptu memorial service Tuesday evening at Hobe Sound Beach.(Sarah Grile/The Palm Beach Post)
Nick Coady, 18, Christopher Harold Briglio, 18, and Connor William Graver, 16, were all killed early Tuesday when the Jeep Grand Cherokee that Coady was driving slammed into the back of a John Deere front-end loader and overturned.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers since then have been investigating whether speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. It may be several weeks before results of toxicology tests are available, FHP officials said.
Today FHP Lt. Chris Cribbs said he saw beer cans in the Jeep and on the scene of the accident.
“I couldn’t say how many, but it was more than one,” Cribbs said, adding that he was at the scene while the SUV was still overturned and it was so badly damaged it was difficult to clearly see inside.
Coady was driving east on Cove Road and had just passed the Federal Highway intersection when the SUV collided with a John Deere front-end loader on a construction site.
Cribbs said there were barricades surrounding the construction site but the driver of the front-end-loader had backed into the eastbound lanes of the road, partially blocking oncoming traffic.
The driver, 25-year-old Pedro Perez-Espinosa of Okeechobee, was not hurt in the crash.
Coady, Briglio and Graver had all attended South Fork High school. Coady had just graduated, Briglio was enrolled in the adult school and Graver would have started his senior year in a few weeks as a defensive lineman for South Fork’s varsity football team.
Their fellow classmates have created a facebook page in their honor, and students today said the tragedy has prompted them to revive the school’s chapter of S.A.D.D., or Students Against Destructive Decisions.
Founded originally as Students Against Driving Drunk, SADD uses peer-to-peer education and community activism to help deter students from drinking, drug use and risky or violent behavior.
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Nicholas Coady
Christopher Briglio
Connor Graver
Christopher Briglio
Connor Graver
Nicholas Coady
Tags: Christopher Briglio, Connor Graver, Cove Road, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nicholas Coady, South Fork High School
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August 6th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
This fact is not a shock, beer cans in the car of the murdered teens. Murderer Coady acted with malice of forethought in his reckless act of killing himself and MURDERING the other 2 teens. All of whom should of been home at that hour.
But, youth and some parents will NEVER LERAN…
August 6th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
wow, what a shame, i can’t believe they found beer cans in their car…..still very sad story
August 6th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Did the Stuart news fire their fact-checker? First she calls it a John Deere truck (and later corrects it to a front-end loader), then she says the boys were driving east and had just passed the US 1 intersection. That would have put them near the Twistee Treat and completely on the wrong side of US 1. Finally she mis-spelled Briglio in the 8th paragraph. Where’s the editor?
August 6th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
anyone know how to remove this “JJ” from this? Someone needs to put a stop to this idiot before he finds himself in serious trouble!
August 6th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
death is a part of life. we never know our time why live in fear of dying. those boys were amazing and had a strong and unchinging love and desire for life. malice you say, clearly your ignorant and thats disgusting to even say. Coady the driver was a reasonably resposible young man and i know he would never do anything ti intentionally harm someone like that. even if those boys werent drinking im sure they were tired on there way home its dark and that construction area was poorly directed and i hope the families win a settlement from them.
besides learning that driving is dangerous, driving late is worse and DUI’s are the worst but lets appreciate life every moment with all those we encounter never leave on baad terms and stop takioing things for granted. too many people focus on all they dont have but they reality is we are blessed.
god bless those boys and all those before them.
- friend of deceased, former south fork student, and strong supporter of SADD (that includes not just alcohol)
August 6th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I agree Dena… This “JJ” person must not have kids or a heart for that matter. Teenagers will be teenagers and no matter what you do they have a mind of their own. We raise them the proper way and tell them right from wrong but we can’t LOCK them up inside forever!! It’s a sad sad story 3 kids lost their lives!! SAD! My prayers go out to their familes!
August 6th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
” We raise them the proper way” Don’t make me laugh, I have been to Treasure Coast Mall. the girls walk around half naked (What Good Parent) would llet them out of the house dressed like that? Oh I am sorry your too busy to see how your kids dress!..
The boys dress just as bad , are rude and disrespectful!
Not to mention how many teens have had kids these days
Sorry but MOST parents want to be friends not parents…
If these kids had beer who gave it to them, What parent let them go driving at 2:30am! You see this tragedy time after time in the news!
August 6th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I’m reading alot about the shame of the loss of these three young men who loved life so much, and lived it to the max! What is wrong with all of you? These three made poor choices, but what if it had been a young mother on a motorcycle instead of heavy equipment? We’d be hearing pleas for leniency for the youthful indiscretion that stole someone’s life. I say the roads are better off without the driver certainly, and quite probably the two other young men who would likely have been doing the same thing if given the opportunity! Save your sympathy for the families and friends who no longer have these individuals for whom they had so much love.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I wonder where it is that the point of this conversation turned into a who, what, where and why. I have a 16 year old son. It’s a hard age and although I did the best that I could and still do, we lose them some how. My son has been in a rehabilitation center for 6 months and I picked him up the very day this happened. You know what the problem is???? There is absolutely nothing for these kids to do. Nothing..For 6 months I have heard from each and every other child in the rehab that their bored.. We need find a happy medium for these kids. Rec centers, skating rink, movie theatre, bowling alley etc. Hobe Sound has absolutely nothing, yet there are hundreds of kids that live there. We don’t need another coffee joint or restaurant we need a rec center…there’s plenty of money over there on the island. Stuart - everything is north of Indian Street. What about the kids that live at the south end of Stuart let alone the ones that live on countyline rd…wow we need find something constructive for all the martin county kids.
Let’s not forget that these kids were very close and that maybe that 16 year old was at a sleepover???? All of these boys had a choice. This is not about parents, this is not about the construction site this about making poor and selfish choices…we were all once kids and carefree I’m sure. I know that I made some poor choices in my life, but we had a place to hang and there was always someone close by to call on…
August 6th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Gillian, this is so not about pricks like him….he’s a freak and his freak ways will eventually catch up with him…
August 6th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
It boils down to one thing and one thing only.
ALCOHOL.
Rest in Peace and bless their families.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I have a hard time believing that all the commentators would be so sympathetic to them if, rather than self-termination, they had plowed into a family car and killed some innocent people.
I’m not gonna sugar coat it, idiotic kids brought this on themselves. Sad that they’re dead, but nobody to blame but them. Would they have ever done anything useful with their lives?
August 6th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Hey Just the Facts, you understand John Deere makes more then lawnmowers right? It’s a brand like Ford, the front-end loader is a John Deere.
You people also need to stop making excuses for these kids. I grew up there and always had something to do. Rather it was hanging out at a friends house, fishing, going to the movie theater, oe whatever. When I was in high school, we drank, of course, but we stayed at the person house or at the spot out in the woods we hung out at. I also blame the parents, I’m a parent myself. I see so many parents trying to be buddies and not punishing their kids. That just can’t happen. I’m sorry if you hear all those kids in rehab saying there is nothing to do, I knew kids like that here too. However, there is a lot more to do here now then when I was young here.
So, stop trying to make excuses for them and learn from them. I myself hope the family loses the lawsuit against the construction company. I hope the construction company sues the pants off the parents to fix their equipment. Someone needs to pay for those kids reckless behavior. Say what you want about what I have said but those kids acted stupid and paid the price. It’s very unfortunate it happened but I hope their death opens the eyes of even one of their friends and prevents another accident like this from ever happening again.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:14 am
This is so sad, but what’s saddest is the negative garbage posted on here…. 3 young lives were lost, 3 families will never be the same, that’s tragic. Most of us did stupid things growing up, you’re a liar if you say you never made a mistake or made poor choices…. we were lucky. We beg our kids not to drink, not to get into a car with a driver who’s been drinking, they do…. hell adults do, look at the woman who just killed her child, her neices, 3 strangers, and herself… these families are suffering enough…. how hurtful to come here and see some of the garbage posted here, what kind of a heartless person would write such trash? To the person who said there needs to be more in our communities for teens, you are right…. they are chased away from malls, movies, bowling allys, parks, friends houses, etc…. we need to do something to save these young lives. In the meantime I pray for all involved, I pray for peace to the families, and god forgive me …. I pray “JJ” gets his!!!!!!!!!!
August 7th, 2009 at 12:21 am
i cannot believe some of the things people say. We are talking about three young men that died in a car accident how many adults can honestly say that haven’t had one to many and drove if you can you are a liar we all have done it some time in our life. If you think that the kids that hang out at the mall half dressed are due to bad parenting then you are crazy as well it is the style so get used to it.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:24 am
GET A LIFE JJ! nick was not a murderer those 3 boys were the best of friends. OBVIOUSLY we know alcohol was involved. why are you so ignorant? wtf is this website for hateful comments? everyone needs to back off and let us grieve some of us just lost good friends, brothers, nephews & grandchildren. its been 3 days. have some heart and if not dont waste your time!!!!
RIP CONNOR GRAVER CHRIS BRIGLIO & NICK COADY
WE LOVE YOU MARTIN COUNTY HAS YOUR BACK FOREVER AND ALWAYS<3
August 7th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Hey Dena Browning, way to show your maturity. I didn’t agree with the things JJ said either but wishing death on someone is very bad karma. Perhaps you didn’t read what I said properly or you’re just like your friend Alex Jarkis and you don’t how to handle your loss right now. So, I’ll ignore your remarks.
I don’t really know how you say what I said was ignorant but like I said, you’re a kid and are going through a hard time so I’ll ignore it. You kids need to learn all of us adults have been through this already. You’re not the first to go through this and you won’t be the last. I know I was like you guys in the past and maybe it’s because I’m older now that I see how stupid I was back then. I pray you learn from this Dena.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:27 am
jack…. you are a “jackass” where do you get your facts?
none of us know the facts, the troopers don’t even know yet, excuses for the kids?? what would it matter to you, it’s sadly too late for them…. we all get that…. and I’m sure every parent is making sure their kids read this story, praying that don’t find themselves in the same place these boys parents are tonight…. i hope you NEVER have to feel their pain, and before you say it….. NEVER SAY NEVER.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Hey Boca, my facts about what? The only fact I said was about the John Deere front end loader. You want my facts, go look at the pictures at the top of this page. It says see more photos, click on it.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Jack says………I myself hope the family loses the lawsuit against the construction company. I hope the construction company sues the pants off the parents to fix their equipment. Someone needs to pay for those kids reckless behavior……
so jack….
What lawsuit???? You know what Jack, you missed a point here, someone did pay for “those kids reckless behavior” they did…. you know what else, their parents are paying too, and will for as long as they live. Did you really think you needed to come on here and make them feel any worse?? Like I said to JJ…. I hope you NEVER have to feel that pain
August 7th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Hey Boca, your right, I read in an article the other day that the parents were already speaking to an attorney about their options. You are right, that may or not be a fact, just because you read it somewhere it doesn’t mean it’s always a fact. We all know the stuart mullet wrapper isn’t the greatest source of info. However, I’m not saying these kids deserved to die. I said it was very unfortunate.
I myself have already gone through this. I lost a friend because he was the drunk driver. But I never made an excuse for him. What he did was stupid and immature. I thought highly of him and still do but he made a stupid mistake and because of that, I don’t get to joke and hang out with him anymore. He was a lot like how all of you are describing these three. He was very funny and a very friendly person. But how he was does not change the fact that he acted stupid one night, killed himself and another person and injured someone else.
I know it sucks and I know how you feel. Are the parents paying for it? Yes they are. But let me ask you this, is it fair that the construction company has all these fingers being pointed at them from others who leave comments on here? That poor construction worker will probably be in therapy the rest of his life because of this and despite what you may think, he did nothing wrong.
If the family is thinking about a lawsuit, I hope they think twice. The construction company probably has insurance to repair the John Deere but if they get sued, I would not blame them at all for counter suing.
August 7th, 2009 at 1:59 am
COME ONE PEOPLE!!! I can’t believe everyone is fighting right now!!! This is a sad and unfortunate event! There is no reason to hate or make comments that at being made (”JJ”) this site was to understand this tragedy a little more and give some people closer! PLease keep this page as peaceful as possible! I’m sure these boys arn’t happy with all of this! No need to bring people down and say that someone would purpously do this! I’m very sad for their families and my prayers go out to everyone who was close to these boys! My little brother was very close to them and it upsets me to see everyone talking bad like this b/c i see how upset my brother is!!
and I dont care if you guys know who I am!
- Kaitlin Naumann
August 7th, 2009 at 2:22 am
I agree with you Kate, but you know what’s the saddest thing about all of this? It’s not the last time it will happen and I think a lot of the friends of these boys just got their first taste of the real world. It’s a cruel and unforgiving world we live in. We need to stop pointing fingers, stop the excuses and pay attention to what happened and learn from it. I’m sorry your brother is suffering from this and I hope he learns from this.
I know it may sound sick but, I think that suv needs to be put out for everyone to see and seeing a real car from a drunk driving accident instead of those fake ones they put in front of the schools. By doing that, maybe everyone, kids and adults, will think twice before they ever get behind the wheel again after drinking.
August 7th, 2009 at 7:10 am
This should be a wake up call to parents everywhere. Do you know where your kids are? Do you know what they are doing right now?
August 7th, 2009 at 8:35 am
So sad for these parents.
Kids will be kids, with their false perception of immortality.
Lord knows that I and most everyone else that made it through those years should be thanking our lucky stars.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:06 am
This just simply goes back to shit happens. This is very sad and only GOD can make a judgement here. Teenagers are teenagers and I can only thank god my three children got through their teenage years alive. My adult duaghter was in a tragic accident in Dec of 2008 and suffered a brain injury and her boyfriend was killed. It was just his time and my daughter will hopefully make a full recovery (still recovering.) We can only live life the best we can. Apparently JJ thinks he’s right and others think their right. Maybe just maybe a power greater than us has it right!!!!!My sympathy goes out to their families.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Where did all of Denna Browning’s comments go? Now I look like I’m talking to myself a few lines back.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Yes, its a horrible time. 3 kids died, 3 families will never be the same.
And there is nobody to blame but the kids themselves. They made their decisions, they caused their own demises. Just because they’re dead doesn’t mean you have to cloud the truth. These kids were a threat to everybody else on the road, not just themselves.
Could have just as easily been any one of YOUR families they crashed into, rather than a piece of large construction equipment. Speeding, driving drunk, these kids made their choices. NOBODY else. Maybe the parents should have been more responsible, but thats a complete bygone.
Memorialize these kids if you wish, but don’t forget they brought this on themselves.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:11 am
THEY WERE JUST RECYCLING!
August 7th, 2009 at 10:27 am
No big loss here. 3 more idiots gone who won’t hurt anyone anymore.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I’m tired of the “nothing to do” excuse that you hear for EVERY mishap, indiscretion, crime, whatever. We grew up in a small town, 20 miles from anything. When we had “nothing to do”, we rode bikes to friends’ houses, and started baseball games, fished, swam in ponds, talked, and generally had fun. We were home by dark, usually exhausted and got up early the next morning to do it all over again. Parents were responsible, we were held accountable for our decisions, and we had respect for the law. We learned early to ‘appreciate’ that bad decisions have consequences, something that seems lost on the majority of this generation.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Kids are bored, don’t let them run the “normal? destructive path”. Get them out of the house and down to the parks and recreation. Get them away from the television, video games and cell phones and have them join the Martin County youth hockey, flag football, tennis league, skate park, etc..
http://www.martin.fl.us/portal/page?_pageid=354,1&_dad=portal&_schema=portal
If they were out during the day exercising they wouldn’t be up all night wandering around looking for trouble. Let them hang out on the phone watching MTV eating junk food all day and they will want to be a gangster.
It costs nothing to run around the block, then twice, then faster. Join the sports teams at school, challenge yourself, do your homework go to college and be somebody.
16 and in rehab? Are we letting each generation self-destruct a little more?
August 7th, 2009 at 10:51 am
This jj person is just plain heartless,my prayers to all friends and family.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
JJ- No one here is a murderer. We’ve all made bad decisions in life, there’s just ended differently. They’re no longer with us, but their friends and families are. They’ll be needing support.
For all my old friends/acquaintances here:
Don’t let these boys die in vain. Remember them for who they were. We’re not guaranteed a single day in life so don’t waste yours. If they were drinking, then so be it. Everyone here knows what can happen. We’re not all going to survive to our retirements, just be smart and we’ll get a little further.
If I ever find out one of you gets killed in a DUI I’ll kill you. Yes. It makes sense.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:44 am
O’Kelly
“If they were drinking, then so be it.”
“If I ever find out one of you gets killed in a DUI I’ll kill you. Yes. It makes sense.”
Don’t tell me, you went to that now infamous South Fork “High”. Put down the bottle and get some sleep.
August 8th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Hi Tim Burke,
I had that same John Deere tractor pull right out in front of me last week! Only because I am an excellent driver and very safe I avoided a serious accident.
Those guy’s are unsafe drivers! I know the kids were drinking but that fact is that guy probably should not have been there and there should have been a flag man hundreds of yards before that tractor.
Sincerely Sadened,
Steve Cotela
scotela@msn.com
August 9th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
To: senseless strangers
Have anything else to say to me, please email me, OkellyRyan@hotmail.com. Leave this forum for people to mourn. I’ll be more than happy helping you fit your entire foot in your mouth elsewhere.