Arrest Made in Fatal Collision

March 21, 2012

On March 17, 2012 at 0053 hours a fatal traffic collision occurred on Coast Highway at Michigan Street. The driver, Patrick Barnett, age 24 of North Carolina, was driving a Ford Mustang northbound on Coast Highway. Barnett drove in a reckless manner by intentionally spinning his vehicle on the wet roadway. He lost control of the Mustang which hit a palm tree. The 25-year-old passenger in his vehicle was killed during the collision. The force of the collision snapped the uppermost 12 feet of the tree, causing it to fall to the ground.

Barnett was transported to Scripps La Jolla where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. On March 20, 2012 Barnett was released from the hospital and was taken into custody by Traffic Officers of the Oceanside Police Department. Barnett was interviewed at the Oceanside Police Department and was later booked into the Vista Detention Facility for Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated (PC 191.5(a)) and Driving under the Influence Causing Death (VC 23153(a)). Barnett's blood alcohol content, taken preliminarily on the night of the collision, was above the state maximum limit of 0.08%.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact Accident Investigator Eric Anderson at (760) 435-4796.

( News Release )