Driver in fatal Martin crash last August was drunk, authorities say
September 21st, 2009 by Michael LaForgiaA driver who died in August along with his two friends in a high-speed crash south of Stuart had a blood alcohol content three times higher than the legal limit, authorities said this morning.
Nick Coady, 18, of Stuart had a blood alcohol content of .251 percent when he drove a speeding 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee head-on into a front-end loader on Cove Road about 2 a.m. on Aug. 4, killing himself and passengers Christopher Briglio, 18, of Tequesta and Connor Graver, 16, of Hobe Sound, according to a Florida Highway Patrol statement.
Briglio’s blood alcohol content was .129 percent, or one-and-a-half times the legal limit. Graver’s blood alcohol content was .152 percent, or nearly twice the legal limit. He also tested positive for marijuana use, the statement said.
The driver of the front-end loader, Pedro Perez-Espinosa, 25, of Okeechobee, tested negative for alcohol or drugs. He wasn’t hurt.
Investigators, who found crushed beer cans in the wrecked Jeep after the crash, said from the start they suspected alcohol was a key factor in the collision.
Friends of the fun-loving trio were so sure Coady was driving drunk that they started a campaign to warn other teens of the dangers of drinking and driving.
The highway patrol still is investigating the crash.
Anyone with information can call Cpl. A. Feola at (772) 468-3967, extension 207 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-8477.
Tags: Crime, Martin County, Schools
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September 21st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Hopefully other teens - as well as adults - will learn from these tragic deaths that drugs & alcohol & driving can be fatal combinations.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
It’s a shame that the first reaction of the family of this young man was to file a suit against the construction company for neglegence. I hope they can now take a step back and assess their own responsibility for the actions of their son.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
To those that say the company was at fault for not having a flagman present at 2:00 in the morning, stop and think about it…you’d now have three dead kids and one dead flagman. If they were so drunk they couldn’t see a front-end loader, they sure wouldn’t have seen a man standing there. It was a tragedy, but it was the fault of the boys.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
The person or persons that provided the alcohol to these teens is ultimately responsible for this tragedy! Let’s hope the police investigators do not rest until they are apprehended and charged with these senseless deaths!
September 21st, 2009 at 1:39 pm
hey Just the Facts…. read the article again, there were only 3 fatalities. None of the flagmen died.. Duhhhh!
September 21st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Hey Dummy read Just the facts’ comment again. He/She is saying think about what you are asking for. If they were so drunk they didn’t see a hug front loader than they probably wouldn’t have seen a flag man thus resulting in four deaths instead of the tragic three.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I totally agree with Jason #2. It’s sad that this happen. but parents needs to be responsible for their kids action. But instead before they had even buried their son they filed a law suit. To quick to point the blame. I just hope other’s will learn from this. DO NOT DRINK AN DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 2:08 pm
screw alcohol, smoke weed!! I never feel need for speed when driving high!
September 21st, 2009 at 2:19 pm
the parents wanted to blame that construction company real fast lets see if they apologize just as fast. not likely
September 21st, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I MUST AGREE WITH COMMENT #4. HE SAID IT ALL!
I HAVE POSTED MY COMMENT ON AUGUST 14, 09′, AND ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 13, 09′ AT 2:41 P.M., RELATIVE TO THIS “UNFORTUNATE” STORY.
(SAD) SUBSTANCE ABUSE DESTROYS!
September 21st, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I MUST AGREE WITH COMMENT #4. HE SAID IT ALL!
I HAVE POSTED MY COMMENT ON AUGUST 14, 09′, AND ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 13, 09′ AT 2:41 P.M., RELATIVE THIS THIS UNFORTUNATE, SAD STORY.
(SAD) SUBSTANCE ABUSE DESTROYS!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
lawsuit??? yeah well those parents of these deceased kids might just want to stop where they are cause when it goes to court its going to get dismissed since these tests came back positive that they were WASTED! the construction company should pay for the damages to the car and thats it. the other crap should fall on the parents of the driver of the jeep since it was there car. at 3x the legal limit, i wouldnt even be able to walk and let alone figure out where to stick the keys into the car. i think this brandi koors girl knows alot and is keeping her mouth shut probably cause (from what i heard) supplied the alcohol. i mean just look at what they had posted on there myspace pages at the time before they were turned “private”, marijuana smoking, and binge drinking in every other picture and maybe even at there own parents houses. BLAME IS ON THE KIDS AND THATS FINAL!
September 21st, 2009 at 4:40 pm
the BAL of any person under 21 should be 0.000! theres no excuse for these kids to be drinking and driving!
September 21st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Ever been down Cove Road late at night? It’s one of the darkest roads I’ve ever been on. The glare alone could pull you off the road.
I’m not condoning the behavior of the driver and his friends, but as a professional truck driver, I know there are more accidents at construction sites then anywhere else. Check it out if you don’t believe me.
If it were a clear-cut case of DUI, then the Stuart Police would not have taken this long to wrap it up. The investigation is ongoing. So let them do their job.
My deepest condolences to the families of these loving teens.
September 21st, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I agree with Fred, the fault lies with the teens and the person or persons who supplied them with alcohol, the construction company has no libility for any damage to them or thier property.The lawsuit is a waste of the taxpayers money, I’m sorry for thier loss but the parents are wrong to blame others for the choices thier child made.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Right on Gerald Gilman! At least some people out there know what they are talking about. I find comfort knowing that not everyone in society is an incompassionate neanderthal! To the families of the victims, my dearest condolences for such a horrible tragedy! To the other remorseless blockheads, go sit on it!