Oceanside police arrested a 24-year-old man on Tuesday in connection with a St. Patrick's Day car accident that killed his passenger.
Patrick Barnett is accused of driving under the influence on the night of Mar. 17. According to the Oceanside Police Department, Barnett allegedly drove recklessly on the wet roadways of Coast Highway at Michigan St. and lost control of his spinning Ford Mustang. He wound up hitting a palm tree, snapping the uppermost 12 feet of the tree and causing it to fall to the ground.
His 25-year-old passenger was killed in the collision.
Barnett was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released Tuesday, police said.
After his release from the hospital, Barnett was taken into custody. He was interviewed at the Oceanside Police Department and booked into the Vista Detention Facility for Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated and Driving under the Influence.
Oceanside Police said Barnett’s blood alcohol content, taken on the night of the accident, was above the state maximum limit of 0.08%, though an exact number was not released.
The investigation is continuing.
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