Police: alcohol, racing may have factored into fatal crash

Costa Mesa police are investigating the possibility that a Huntington Beach woman and her boyfriend raced in separate cars in Costa Mesa while under the influence of alcohol before she was killed in a crash over the weekend.

Investigators are waiting for blood tests from the Orange County coroner to determine if Sara Noel Harris, 21, had been drinking, but police say her boyfriend, who they declined to identify, told them during questioning that the two had been drinking Sunday morning at Billy’s At the Beach on West Coast Highway.

The boyfriend told police that he and Harris left the Newport Beach bar at 2 p.m. to pick up one of his cars at Harris’ parents’ house in south Huntington Beach, Traffic Investigator Jeff Horn said. Harris had been drinking beers, while the boyfriend had a few Mai Tais, Horn said the boyfriend told police.

Harris drove a black Audi, which was picked up at the parents’ house, and the boyfriend drove a silver Audi, both of which were registered to the boyfriend, Horn said.

Just before 2:30 p.m., the couple headed east up Adams Avenue into Costa Mesa where several witnesses reported seeing the two cutting in-and-out of traffic “from at least Albatross Drive to Mesa Verde Drive,” Horn said.

Harris’ boyfriend told investigators the two had been “horse-playing with the vehicles,” Horn said.

The boyfriend told police that he had pulled ahead of Harris just before the Mesa Verde Drive traffic light and lost sight of her, Horn said. He also told police that he assumed that Harris got caught up at the red light, Horn added.

After the crash, Harris’ cell phone continued ringing with calls from the boyfriend, Horn said. The boyfriend said he was trying to find out where she was, Horn added.

“Speed is definitely a factor in this case,” Horn said.

So far, the investigation shows that Harris, who was wearing her seat-belt, may have overturned on the curve just before the Mesa Verde Drive light, then over-corrected the turn before the car careened over three lanes of traffic into the pole, Horn said.

Harris died of multiple traumatic injuries, county coroners said. Blood tests are being performed but it will take about a couple of weeks to get the results.