Florida Highway Patrol arrests Arcadia man on DUI/Manslaughter charges in 2022 fatal collision

After an exhaustive criminal investigation, the Florida Highway Patrol filed criminal charges against Garret Cole Edwards, and booked him into the Desoto County Jail for two counts of DUI Manslaughter, two counts of DUI Serious Bodily Injury and Driving While License Suspended Involving a Death. 

On September 2nd of 2022, a John Deere Utility Vehicle driven by a 39-year-old Arcadia man was traveling west on County Road 660, approaching US-17. At the same time, a Ford Fusion driven by Edwards was also traveling west on County Road 660, approaching the same intersection.

The front of the fusion collided with rear of the UV. The first vehicle was redirected off the roadway, collided with a ditch and wooden fence, and came to rest on the north shoulder. The second vehicle rotated, traveled off the roadway and came to rest on the north shoulder.

All occupants of the first vehicle were ejected. Two passengers (a 33-year-old Arcadia woman and 13-year-old male) died in the collision, while the driver and another passenger (a 10-year-old male) sustained serious injuries.