Man Arrested in Saturday Crash That Killed Marine

A 24-year-old man was behind bars today for crashing a sports car off a rain-slick North County road while allegedly driving drunk early on St. Patrick's Day, killing a Camp Pendleton-based Marine riding in the vehicle.

Patrick Lewis Barnett of North Carolina allegedly was swerving across South Coast Highway in Oceanside, intentionally making his 2005 Ford Mustang fishtail and spin out, when he lost control near Michigan Avenue shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday, according to police.

The car slid off the pavement and smashed into a palm tree, snapping it in half, Lt. Leonard Mata said.

Barnett's 25-year-old passenger died in the crash. The serviceman's name has not yet been released.

Medics took Barnett to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for treatment of various injuries he suffered in the accident. He was arrested upon his release Tuesday and booked into Vista Jail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.

He was being held on $100,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

— City News Service