A Dallas Cowboys player was arrested Saturday on suspicion of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the death of a teammate.
Irving police said Josh Brent, 24, crashed in the 1400 block of the State Highway 114 service road at about 2:21 a.m.
Jerry Brown Jr., 25, a passenger in the vehicle, died at an area hospital. Brown was a practice-squad linebacker.
"I am devastated and filled with grief, filled with grief for the loss of my close friend and teammate Jerry Brown," Brent said from jail in a statement through his agent late Saturday night. "I will live with this horrific and tragic loss every day for the rest of my life."
Police said Brent, whose full name is Joshua A. Price-Brent, was speeding when his vehicle hit the outside curb, causing it to flip at least one time.
Investigators said the Mercedes was on fire when officers arrived.
"When our officers arrived on scene, Mr. Brent was removing or dragging Mr. Brown from the vehicle," Irving police spokesman Officer John Argumaniz said.
Irving police said investigators believe alcohol and speed were contributing factors in the crash. Brent was arrested at the crash scene after failing a field sobriety test. He was taken to an area hospital for a mandatory blood draw, police said.
"After he performed those tests, or based on his performance of those tests, along with our officers' observations and the conversations that they had with him, he was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated," Argumaniz said. "Now, once our officers learned that Mr. Brown had passed away, then Mr. Price-Brent was under arrest for intoxication manslaughter."
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Brent was booked into the Irving City Jail on one count of intoxication manslaughter.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Investigators are trying to determine where Brent and Brown spent the evening before the crash.
Irving police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact police.
Brent remained in jail Saturday night awaiting a Sunday morning bond hearing. Dallas criminal defense attorney George Milner will represent Brent.
According to court records in Illinois, where he went to college, Brent was arrested in 2009 for driving under the influence, speeding and driving with a suspended license.
He served 30 days in jail for the misdemeanor DUI charge and finished probation in July 2011.
Brent had several off-the-field issues at Illinois and was briefly suspended before leaving school early for the draft.
Brent and Brown were teammates in Illinois and lived together in Irving.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement Saturday. "At this time, our hearts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with the members of Jerry’s family and all of those who knew him and loved him."
According to NBC 5 Sports Director Newy Scruggs, players were told about Brown's death before the team plane left for Cincinnati, where the Cowboys are scheduled to play Sunday.
Head coach Jason Garrett removed the media, guests and sponsors from the charter plane to deliver the news to the team, NBC 5's Matt Barrie reported. Some players were in shock, and the mood on the plane was somber, players told Barrie.
The team requested extra security when they arrived in Cincinnati. Team members were visibly sad and somber as they arrived at the team hotel.
Brent has played in all 12 games this season and has been a bigger presence on defense with starting nose guard Jay Ratliff battling injuries. He made his first career start the season opener against the New York Giants and has 35 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks.
The Cowboys signed Brown to their practice squad Oct. 24, but he hasn't been on the active roster.
NBC 5's Newy Scruggs, Matt Barrie and Sara Story and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
