Drugs, Alcohol Found In Bodies Of 3 Piedmont Crash Victims

PIEDMONT, CA — The three people who died in a Nov. 27 crash in Piedmont all had alcohol and cocaine in their systems, according to toxicology reports released by the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau.

The trio — 19-year-old driver Soren Dixon and his passengers Jack Nelson, 20, and Krysta Tsukahara, 19 — all had varying amounts of both substances in their systems, with Dixon showing a blood alcohol level of .195, which is above the legal limit of .01 for drivers under 21 as well as twice as the legal limit of .08 for those over 21.

Dixon also tested positive for methamphetamine, according to his toxicology report.

All three died at the crash site and the cause of death is listed as asphyxia due to smoke inhalation in autopsy reports for all three.

They were killed the day before Thanksgiving when the Tesla Cybertruck they were in struck a retaining wall and tree and then caught fire on Hampton Road between Sea View and King avenues at about 3 a.m.

A fourth person in the truck was pulled to safety by a motorist who witnessed the crash.

While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, it has been ruled accidental and Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers said at the time that speed was a likely factor.

A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol said the investigation should be finalized in the next couple of weeks.

The three were all graduates of Piedmont High School, with Tsukahara enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, Dixon at the University of Southern California and Nelson at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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