Harris test shows alcohol

An autopsy report on a Huntington Beach woman killed in an Oct. 7 crash on Adams Avenue in Costa Mesa showed she was drunk and had traces of marijuana in her blood, authorities said Tuesday.

Sarah Noel Harris’ blood-alcohol level was .14, above the legal limit of .08, according to the Orange County Coroner’s toxicology test.

Examiners said the marijuana detected in Harris’ blood might not have affected her driving. It all depends on how long the drug was in her system.

“You can have marijuana metabolites in your system, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s active in you system,” said Traffic Investigator Jeff Horn.

Harris lost control of her car, a late-model Audi, while swerving in and out of traffic, police said.

Harris’ boyfriend told investigators he and Harris had been drinking that morning at Billy’s at the Beach in Newport Beach, investigators said.

Harris’ boyfriend was driving a silver Audi at the time of the accident. He said the two were “horse-playing” with the cars while driving, but witnesses have described the two cars as racing, according to Horn.

The boyfriend has not been charged or cited in connection with the accident.

The crash sparked some controversy when a woman who planned a memorial for Harris had to cancel because police advised her she could face threats from residents angry about how alcohol factored into the accident.

The report listed Harris’ cause of death as blunt trauma to the head with multiple skulls fractures.

Since the accident, a couple of changes have been made to Adams Avenue, including sections of solid white lines where no lane changes are permitted near West Mesa Verde Drive. Also, ribs were placed across Adams Avenue.

KELLY STRODL may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at kelly.strodl@latimes.com. DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.