Wrong-Way Driver’s Blood Alcohol Tested Well Over Legal Limit

The blood-alcohol level of an alleged wrong-way driver accused of killing four people Thursday in a head-on collision was almost twice the legal limit, the California Highway Patrol said Monday.

Daniel E. Murray, 25, of Lancaster was driving east on the westbound Ventura Freeway in Agoura, according to the highway patrol, when his pickup truck sideswiped two autos, then rammed into a car containing three family members and the girlfriend of a high school basketball player. Moments later, the youth, Jamaal Brown, 17, encountered the accident scene while returning from a game on the team bus.

Killed in the crash were Ventura High School teacher Suzanne Brown, 37; her son Jonah Brown, 7; her father, Jack Rawls, 69, and Dia Rae Rounds, 16, all of Ventura.

Held Without Bail

Murray is being held without bail in the Los Angeles County Jail on suspicion of murder. He is to be arraigned Tuesday in Los Angeles Municipal Court in Van Nuys, Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert H. McIntosh said.

Tests conducted by the Los Angeles County sheriff’s crime lab showed the alcohol level in a blood sample taken from Murray after the accident was 0.19, CHP Officer Kenn Rosenberg said. A person is considered legally drunk when the level is 0.10 or higher, he said.

Although the CHP is asking the district attorney’s office to file four murder charges against Murray, McIntosh said he has not reviewed all the details of the CHP investigation. He would not disclose what charges would be filed Tuesday against Murray but said, “If the CHP brings more information to support what we know already, then it would probably be four counts of murder.”

Felony drunk driving charges in the deaths and a felony assault charge, stemming from injuries to the driver of another of the four cars involved in the accident, might be filed, he said.

Memorial Service Scheduled

A memorial service for the victims has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday in the gymnasium of Ventura College, at 4667 Telegraph Road.

Surviving family members are establishing a scholarship fund for Jamaal Brown, who hopes to attend Stanford University, said his grandmother, Shirley Hallowell.

Jamaal said he is trying to cope with the loss.

“It’s hard, definitely, but I just have a lot of support between friends and family,” he said. “A lot of people have been coming over and calling. I’ve just been surrounded by a lot of loving people.

”. . . Mom would have always wanted me to just go on with my life.”