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Updated June 7, 2005, 6:51 p.m. ET

Parents of girl killed in car crash sue hosts of party where driver drank

STUART, Fla. — A car crash that left two teens dead and another in prison continues to afflict this small coastal town nearly three years after the fatal accident.

Stephen Bromstrup, 16, allegedly downed several beers that he sneaked into a June 17, 2002, pool party that Barbara and John O'Brien threw for their 14-year-old daughter.

After the party, Bromstrup and two friends, Daniel Downes and Matthew Gordon, climbed into a 1988 Pontiac Firebird and took off through the O'Briens' upscale neighborhood, according to police.

Prosecutors say Bromstrup raced through a stop sign at 70 miles an hour and plowed into a Cadillac.


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Two passengers in the Cadillac, Sarah Stone, 14, and Alexandra Quaroni, 13, were killed; another, Jennifer McKinney, 14, was thrown through the rear window and suffered a broken pelvis and fractured skull.

According to police, Bromstrup had a blood-alcohol level of 0.041 percent when he skidded 237 feet into an intersection at about 11:30 p.m. Although the level is below what Florida law considers impaired, Bromstrup was a minor and thus violated the law. Florida law presumes a person is impaired with a 0.08 percent blood alcohol level.

Bromstrup pleaded no contest to vehicular homicide and other related charges and was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2003.

Now, the parents of Sarah Stone are suing the hosts of the cookout for wrongful death.

The complaint, filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit in Martin County, claims the O'Briens broke the law because they did not "take reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by a minor" at the open party they hosted for their daughter.

The complaint alleges Daniel Downes illegally purchased a 12-pack of beer at A&M Discount Beverage, which he then shared with Bromstrup before and after the cookout.

The complaint also states Bromstrup sped through the 25-mph zone, where the accident occurred at the urging of Downes, who told him, "Do it again." The provocation referred to the high speed that they had reached on the way to the party.

Although several other claims surrounding the accident were settled out of court, the O'Briens are continuing with the case. Their attorneys will likely argue they are not responsible for Bromstrup's alcohol consumption by asserting he drank after the party, not during.

Opening arguments are expected to begin Monday. Several of the teens who attended the party are expected to testify, as is Stephen Bromstrup and parents of both victims.

Because of the publicity surrounding the case, Judge Charles Smith issued a gag order that prevents either side from speaking to reporters.

The trial is expected to last two weeks and will be streamed live on Court TV Extra.

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Watch the trial


Verdict

Emotions run high in courtroom

Expert: Alcohol played role in teen's fatal crash

Party host defends actions

Driver testifies

Case background




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