Hayden Lake drowning victim had blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit
HAYDEN, Idaho — The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Team and Kootenai County Coroner’s Office concluded their investigation into the Jan. 13, 2018, crash at the Hayden Lake Boat Launch, which resulted in the death of 34-year-old Christopher Lancaster of Spokane, Washington.
Lancaster’s autopsy and toxicology report show his blood alcohol level (BAC) was .144, nearly twice the legal limit.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office received information during their investigation that another vehicle may have been near Lancaster’s vehicle at the time of the crash. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage obtained both from the crash site and video from The Corner Bar that Lancaster drove away from just before the crash. Those videos eliminated any possibility or a second vehicle being involved with the crash.
Investigators also interviewed Andrea Berkey, the lone survivor of the crash, and found her recollection of the events from that day to be consistent with the evidence obtained during the investigation.
This case has now been closed and was found consistent with an automobile collision and subsequent drowning due to an alcohol impaired driver.
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