CRASH VICTIM HAD USED MARIJUANA, TESTS REVEAL

Toxicology tests revealed significant amounts of marijuana in the system of
a Squaw Valley man who was missing for two weeks before a passer-by found
his car down a rugged embankment along Highway 180 two weeks ago.

Daniel Raymond Mariscal, 45, was last seen alive about 1:30 a.m. Sept. 30
when he walked out of Butterfield Brewing Co. in Fresno's Tower District.
His family and friends searched for him before his car was discovered Oct. 14.

He died in the single-car crash.

Venu Gopal, Fresno's chief forensic pathologist, said Mariscal had 746
nanograms of marijuana in his system but said there was no way to tell
whether it contributed to the crash.

"In this case, it doesn't mean anything at all," said Gopal, explaining
that there was no way to tell whether Mariscal was a habitual marijuana
user or had tried it for the first time before the crash.

He said marijuana doesn't cause disorientation like alcohol does.

Mariscal also had alcohol in his blood, but the 0.01% level was far below
the legal blood-alcohol limit.

"What is interesting is that he was coming out of a bar, and he really
didn't have much alcohol in his system," Gopal said.

The reporter can be reached at mkreamer@fresnobee.com or at 441-6208.