Bond set at $500,000 for Cowboys’ Josh Brent after crash kills teammate

A judge set the bond for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent at $500,000 after Brent's arrest Saturday on manslaughter charges because of a fatal crash that killed his teammate Jerry Brown, Jr. 

CNN reports that Brent appeared in front of a judge for arraignment Sunday morning the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas, and did not enter a plea. 

The accident happened early Saturday morning when police say Brent, 24, was driving faster than the 45 miles per hour speed limit on a state highway. Brent's Mercedes slammed into an "outside curb, causing the vehicle to flip at least one time before coming to rest in the middle of the service road," reports the Chicago Tribune. 

"Officers at the scene believed alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash," police said. Brent was given a sobriety test at the scene and "Based on the results and the officer's observations and conversations with Price-Brent, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated," Irving police spokesman John Argumaniz told the Tribune. 

Police arrived at the scene to find Brent dragging 25-year-old Brown from the car, which was on fire. Brown, who was sitting in the passenger seat at the time of the crash, was unresponsive at the scene and pronounced dead at a hospital, reports St. Louis Today. 

The Dallas Morning News said Brown and Brent had partied with other teammates and celebrities at a nightclub shortly before the crash. The two had been best friends and teammates since their days at the University of Illinois. 

"I am devastated and filled with grief," Brent said in a statement released by his agent Saturday night. "Filled with grief for the loss of my close friend and teammate, Jerry Brown. I am also grief-stricken for his family, friends and all who were blessed enough to have known him.

"I will live with this horrific and tragic loss every day for the rest of my life. My prayers are with his family, our teammates and his friends at this time."

Brent has reportedly been in trouble before Saturday night's fatal accident. AP reports that Brent pleaded guilty to DUI charge in June 2009 and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years of probation, 200 hours of community service and a fine of about $2,000. 

Argumaniz told AP that Brent missed a 10 a.m. Saturday booking session with a judge because he was intoxicated. He is expected in court on Sunday.