18-year-old Volusia County man arrested in crash that killed his cousin

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged Monday in an Oak Hill crash that killed his cousin last year.

Volusia County deputies arrested Austen Goodrich after a warrant was issued charging him with DUI causing a death.

According to investigators, Goodrich was driving a Dodge Dakota with three teenage passengers in July 2013 when he crashed the truck, killing 16-year-old Cody Goodrich.

Austen Goodrich's mother talked with Channel 9 on Tuesday, saying her son is innocent, questioning who was actually driving that night.

But investigators questioned the passengers, looked over surveillance video at a store and ran DNA tests, determining that Goodrich was driving and had consumed a drink called Four Loko, an energy drink mixed with alcohol, that night.

"I mean, it's hurting all of us. It's not just what's going on with Austen, it's Cody, too," said Austen Goodrich's mother.

The report shows the then-17-year-old was able to purchase the alcohol with an underage friend at an Edgewater convenience store.

Later that night at a hunting camp, both Austen and Cody Goodrich, with two girls identified as Cheyenne Ellis and Brianna Wilson, got into Austen's truck and drove to another convenience store, where an adult bought them more alcohol, according to the report.

Investigators said they believe Austen Goodrich was driving 51 mph in a 35 mph zone on West Halifax Avenue when he sped over railroad tracks and lost control of the truck.

He then overcorrected, causing the truck to slide into a ditch and turn onto its side, investigators said.

Investigators said Cody Goodrich was pronounced dead at the scene. Austen Goodrich and one passenger were hospitalized. His third passenger, who was wearing seat belt, was treated at the scene.

Investigators said deputies at the crash scene found several containers of alcohol in and around the truck.

At the hospital, Austen Goodrich's blood alcohol level was 0.213, more than twice the legal limit in Florida, investigators said.

Goodrich, who is from Edgewater and was 17 at the time of the crash, was booked into the Volusia County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

WFTV