Although the suspect in Friday’s fatal crash would be considered guilty of driving under the influence with a 0.01 percent blood-alcohol concentration, the California Highway Patrol is alleging her BAC was above the legal limit for adults.
Breanna Stewart, 19, of Hollister, is accused of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter after the accident last week. She had not been officially charged as of Wednesday, and the district attorney could not be reached immediately Thursday on the charging status.
Her toxicology results are not back yet, but CHP Officer Jaime Rios, an agency spokesman, said Thursday investigators believe Stewart’s BAC was above 0.08 percent.
“I can tell you we do believe that her BAC was above point-zero-eight,” Rios said, adding that blood results would reveal definitively whether alcohol or drugs played a role. “It’s based on the field-sobriety tests that were given.”
Rios stressed that the legal limit for anyone under age 21 is 0.01 percent BAC.
Ryan McFall, a 2006 graduate of San Benito High School, died in the single-car accident early Friday morning on Union Road.
The accident occurred around 3 a.m. The car, a 2009 Hyundai Sonata, was westbound on Union Road when Stewart lost control and crashed into a light pole at the intersection of San Benito Street, said CHP Officer Brian Rayner. The car was severely damaged on the front right side and all along the right side, Rayner said.
McFall, 23, died at the scene before responders arrived.
The CHP spokesman said responders initially transported Stewart to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital for treatment. She was booked into the San Benito County Jail at 6:40 a.m., according to jail personnel. Stewart was then released at 7:55 a.m. Friday after posting bail set at $100,000.
McFall was born in Rutherglen, Scotland, on July 3, 1988. His family moved to Cupertino in April 1994 and came to Tres Pinos in July 1996. He attended Tres Pinos Elementary school from 1996 to 2002 and was a 2006 graduate of San Benito High School, where he was an all-Tri County Athletic League pitcher for the Balers. He recently moved to Sacramento and had been studying electrical engineering at American River College.
McFall is survived by parents Shaun and Sarah, and younger brothers Gareth and Scott.
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SERVICES FOR RYAN McFALL:
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral home and Crematory, 870 San Benito St., Hollister. His remains will be transported to Scotland to be finally interred next to his maternal grandmother. Donations can be made to the Community Foundation for San Benito County to a fund in the name of Ryan McFall in care of the funeral home.
