A late-night gathering of young adults who had attended a Henrico County funeral earlier Monday turned doubly tragic when a vehicle struck and killed one of the mourners.
Hanover County authorities said yesterday that the alcohol-related death of Drew Johnson, 19, of Henrico shortly after midnight Monday remains under investigation.
But 21-year-old Nicholas Ryan Brooks, also of Henrico, is being held with no bond today, charged with driving under the influence in connection with the fatal accident.
In an interview last night, Johnson's father tearfully said he forgives Brooks but also blames him for what happened.
"It's a horrible curse what happened, something that will follow him the rest of his life. I blame him but, being a Christian, I have to forgive him," Larry D. Johnson said.
"My son, my Drew man, died in the arms of his older brother. He took two breaths and his arms went limp," Larry Johnson said his older son told him.
Drew Johnson and Nicholas Brooks were best friends, playing baseball together as kids. The two families were close enough that Brooks' mother used to baby-sit Drew, Larry Johnson said. The two boys attended Hermitage High School.
A member of Brooks' family declined to comment last night, saying that he feared any statement might wrongly influence an ongoing investigation.
"Everybody is trying to understand how it happened," said Richmond attorney John Honey, who is representing Brooks and will seek to have him released on bond tomorrow.
Brooks, of the 10500 block of Glenmar Court in Henrico, was leaving the gathering in western Hanover early Tuesday when the car he was driving hit Johnson, according to Hanover authorities. Brooks' lawyer said there were two passengers in the car.
Larry Johnson said that as he understood it from talking to his older son, "apparently, Nick had agreed not to drive, but then the car was stuck and Drew apparently was run over when he tried to free it."
Brooks, Drew Johnson and others at the Hanover site on Whitlock Farms Drive had attended a funeral Monday for a 20-year-old Hanover woman who had suffered from a long-term illness.
Hanover authorities said an ongoing investigation is focused not only on Brooks but also on alcohol use by minors and the role any adults may have played.
Brooks, who is being held in the Pamunkey Regional Jail, was convicted of possession of marijuana in Henrico in April 2008 and fined. His license was restricted for two months at the time.
Drew Johnson, who lived in the 4700 block of Candlelight Place, had been convicted in Henrico of illegal possession of alcohol, according to his father. The conviction stemmed from drinking taking place at a birthday party in March 2007.
Details on a memorial service for Drew Johnson will be announced later, the family said.
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