Gavilan College basketball player Billy Heard – Andrel Gaines’ teammate – who was driving the car when back-to-back car wrecks sent six people to the hospital, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accidents, according to a toxicology report obtained Monday by the Gilroy Dispatch.
Heard, 22, was tested for alcohol approximately 30 minutes after the 1:30 a.m. crash Nov. 6 and for additional substances – including methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates, oxycodone and heroin – almost 90 minutes after that, according to the report. He tested negative for all those substances, according to the report.
Gaines, 19, died Friday from injuries suffered in the incident.
Heard, Gaines, teammate Davontea Johnson, 20, and two female passengers were traveling south near Millbrae on U.S. Highway 101 in a Cadillac sedan when Heard reportedly swerved to avoid a tire in the roadway, causing the vehicle to collide with the center median.
As the vehicle rested in the fast lane, a red Nissan 300ZX driven by 43-year-old San Jose resident Dennis Leffew crashed into the Cadillac, the CHP said. Heard and Leffew were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Tony Tam, the CHP’s information officer for the San Francisco area, said arresting drivers involved in such an accident was not standard procedure, but often occurs when officers have probable cause for suspecting alcohol or drug use.
Tam said the CHP would not comment on or reveal toxicology results. The CHP is still investigating the incident and has not determined whether it will send the case to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, Tam said.
Alcohol and drugs aside, Heard and Leffew still could face manslaughter charges if it’s determined they were driving recklessly, Tam said.
