Parrish man faces manslaughter charges in death of three teens in 2014 DUI crash

Parrish man charged with manslaughter for 2014 DUI crash that killed 3 teens, put another in coma

MANATEE -- A Parrish man is now facing five DUI-related charges for a 2014 crash he was involved in that left three teens dead and one injured.

Investigators reported finding him at the crash site with an open beer can and reeking of alcohol.

Brody Catt, 34, was arrested at 5:10 p.m. Friday and charged with three counts of driving under the influence manslaughter, one count of DUI causing bodily injury and two counts of DUI causing damage to personal property, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Catt appeared before a judge Saturday morning for a first appearance hearing after being held overnight Manatee County jail without bond. Catt was released on bonds totaling $82,000.

At 8:18 p.m. Nov. 19, 2014, Catt was westbound in a red 2013 Dodge Ram on County Road 675 approaching the Spencer Parrish Road intersection. A Chevy Impala followed by an Infiniti G35 were eastbound on C.R. 675 approaching the same intersection.

Catt turned left on Spencer Parrish Road failing to yield to the Impala, according to FHP, and the front of the Dodge Ram hit the front of the Impala. The Infiniti tried to avoid the collision by veering left, but hit the rear of the Dodge Ram, which was spinning from the initial collision.

Amber Darlene France, 18, and Sean Thomas Barrett, 19, were killed in the Impala.

Two other victims in the Impala -- Lee Grady Edington, 19, of Bradenton, and Nicholas Everette Watson of Myakka -- were taken to Blake Medical Center with severe injuries. Edington died several days later from his injuries.

The 22-year-old Infiniti driver had minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital.

Although Watson survived, he said the crash has forever changed his life. He can no longer enjoy taking his son fishing or riding motorcycles, he said.

"I have spinal-cord damage and I'm probably going to be in wheelchair for the rest of my life," Watson said.

Other injuries from the crash include a broken leg and pelvis; severed liver, intestines and spine; broken arms; and broken ribs.

With no insurance, Watson said he can't afford needed medications or physical therapy. Weekly visits from the Spine Institute will soon stop, he said.

He still remembers details from the crash. Watson said he was conscious until he got to the hospital where a breathing tube was inserted.

The four friends had gone to a mower shop, he said, and were on their way back with a part for his son's go-cart. He said he saw Catt up swerve off the road and then manage to get back on.

"I could tell and said: 'That guy's drunk,' " Watson said. "Sean was driving and slowed down."

It wasn't enough to avoid the crash.

"The car was on fire and I was pulled out of the window with Lee who was on the back seat with me," he recalled.

He remembers a bystander from a nearby home and the driver of the Infiniti pulled them out.

In the helicopter he received a shock -- his friends France and Barrett were dead.

"I knew how bad it was," he said.

Not until he woke from a coma two months later did he learn Edington died days after the crash.

Watson said he knows Catt was in Holmes County in the Panhandle when he was caught to face his outstanding warrant.

"Holmes County pulled him over for a traffic violation and they found he had an out-of-county warrant," he said.

Catt was then held there for about four days then extradited to Manatee County, he added.

Watson said he will happy to share his story if it stops even one person from drinking and driving.

"It's not worth it," he said. "I wish people would think before they make these decisions that tear people's lives apart."

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper at the crash reported seeing Catt with his injuries and an open beer can of Bud Light inside his truck, according to a court document filed by Assistant State Attorney Anthony DaFonseca requesting a subpoena for Catt's medical records. As the trooper began her investigation, Catt reportedly smelled of alcohol as he spoke.

"Trooper (Stephanie) Peterson also observed Mr. Catt with bloodshot and watery eyes, flushed face and slurred speech when he spoke," DaFonseca wrote.

Catt was taken to Blake Medical Center following the crash for treatment of his injuries.

DaFonseca was seeking a subpoena for Catt's blood tests to prove whether he was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance at the time of the crash.

On Jan. 15, 2015, Circuit Judge Diana Moreland issued the subpoena.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 8:23 PM with the headline "Parrish man faces manslaughter charges in death of three teens in 2014 DUI crash ."