Shea Road crash driver sentenced to 10.5 years

On May 9th, 2012, Benjamin Paul Brodie, 21, of Parker, was sentenced by La Paz County Superior Court Judge Michael Burke to 10.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections. Brodie previously pled guilty on April 5th, 2012, to two counts of Manslaughter and one count of Aggravated Assault. Brodie is not eligible for probation or early release.

On October 6th, 2011, Brodie was driving a vehicle on Shea Rd., in Parker, with three passengers. Brodie lost control of the vehicle and went off the road. It caused the vehicle to be launched in the air and the vehicle collided into a natural desert structure. The investigation revealed that Brodie was driving at approximately 75mph when he applied the brakes leading up to the collision and he had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .111 which is over the legal limit of .080. As a result of the collision two of Brodie’s passengers were killed and one became paralyzed from the neck down.

The case was prosecuted by La Paz County Attorney Sam Vederman. The case was investigated by Sgt. John Quandel, Dep. Frank Vidrine, Dep. Doug Williams, Sgt. Richard Epps and Lt. Curt Bagby all of the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office, Det. D. J. Hansen of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Ofc. Sonny Fisher of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department.