Drugs Found in Crash Suspect Attias’ Blood

Toxicology tests have found that marijuana and the topical painkiller lidocaine were in the bloodstream of David Edward Attias the night his car careened out of control in a Santa Barbara County neighborhood, killing four people and leaving one seriously injured.

The Department of Justice test, released this week by the California Highway Patrol, was done on blood that was forcibly drawn from Attias immediately after the Feb. 23 crash in Isla Vista, near UC Santa Barbara. Attias had refused to take a Breathalyzer test at the scene after he was forced to the ground by arresting officers.

No other drugs were found in the testing, and CHP officials would not specify the amount of marijuana and lidocaine in Attias’ system.

“The findings are certainly not inconsistent with the charges which have been filed against David Attias,” said Capt. Robert Clements of the CHP’s Santa Barbara office. “The use of marijuana and another drug can impair a person while driving.”

Attias, a UC Santa Barbara freshman, has been charged with four counts of murder, four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and five counts of driving under the influence of drugs and causing great bodily injury. His status hearing is scheduled for Monday in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

According to dormitory neighbors and friends interviewed after the crash, Attias was known as a student who enjoyed attending rave parties, where drugs are prevalent.

Lidocaine is best known as a topical anesthetic used in dental work and for the treatment of burns and sports injuries. It is an ingredient in many over-the-counter products such as sunburn gels and arthritis creams.

In its white powder form, lidocaine is used as a cutting agent for cocaine, according to Clements and other law enforcement officials.

Clements would not comment on whether his office has found that Attias underwent any medical procedure that involved use of lidocaine in the days before the crash.

Observers at the scene of the carnage on a crowded residential street have told investigators that Attias ran around yelling and acting erratic after the crash.

Attias attorney Robert Sanger and Assistant Dist. Atty. Patrick McKinley did not return calls Wednesday, but the defense has filed papers saying some evidence gathered by the CHP should be thrown out.

Sanger has alleged that officials abused their authority during searches of Attias’ Santa Monica home and two “therapeutic schools” the teenager attended. Sanger argued that some documents seized are protected by therapist-patient privilege and that the wrongful search has contaminated the prosecution of the case.