Toxicology results ‘out of character’

Sue Doyle

NEWPORT BEACH -- Newport Harbor High School sophomore A.J. Slater prefers

to remember Andre Stewart for the good things he did in life -- not for

the recent news that the star football player was legally drunk when he

died in a May auto accident.

Recently released toxicology results show the Newport Harbor senior had

traces of marijuana in his body and a blood-alcohol level of 0.09% when

he died on his way home from a party last month. California’s legal limit

is 0.08%.

The 18-year-old was killed in the early hours of May 14 when he lost

control of the 1999 Nissan Altima he was driving on the Pomona Freeway

and slammed into a guardrail. His half-brother, Lamar William, was asleep

in the car but survived with minor injuries.

Slater and other classmates were surprised by the report.

“This seems shocking,” Slater said. “Especially with him driving home

with his brother. It’s out of his character.”

Still, the test results did not change Slater’s memory of Stewart, who

was known as a strong person who didn’t let things get him down.

Since the tragedy, there has been an outpouring of emotion from the

community and Newport Harbor High School students, who still honor

Stewart’s memory.

“If anything, this taught the community the impact just one person can

make,” said Billy Clayton, captain of Newport Harbor’s 1999 championship

football team. “He was just one kid, but meant a lot to a lot of

different people.”

Newport Harbor football coach Jeff Brinkley would not comment on the

report.

Stewart’s mother, who recently accepted her son’s diploma during Newport

Harbor’s graduation ceremony, could not be reached for comment.