DRUGS FOUND IN CRASH SUSPECT ATTIAS' BLOOD

Toxicology tests have found that marijuana and the topical painkiller
lidocaine were in the bloodstream of David Edward Attias the night his car
careened out of control in a Santa Barbara County neighborhood, killing
four people and leaving one seriously injured.

The Department of Justice test, released this week by the California
Highway Patrol, was done on blood that was forcibly drawn from Attias
immediately after the Feb. 23 crash in Isla Vista, near UC Santa Barbara.
Attias had refused to take a Breathalyzer test at the scene after he was
forced to the ground by arresting officers.

No other drugs were found in the testing, and CHP officials would not
specify the amount of marijuana and lidocaine in Attias' system.

"The findings are certainly not inconsistent with the charges which have
been filed against David Attias," said Capt. Robert Clements of the CHP's
Santa Barbara office. "The use of marijuana and another drug can impair a
person while driving."

Attias, a UC Santa Barbara freshman, has been charged with four counts of
murder, four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and
five counts of driving under the influence of drugs and causing great
bodily injury. His status hearing is scheduled for Monday in Santa Barbara
Superior Court.

According to dormitory neighbors and friends interviewed after the crash,
Attias was known as a student who enjoyed attending rave parties, where
drugs are prevalent.

Lidocaine is best known as a topical anesthetic used in dental work and for
the treatment of burns and sports injuries. It is an ingredient in many
over-the-counter products such as sunburn gels and arthritis creams.

In its white powder form, lidocaine is used as a cutting agent for cocaine,
according to Clements and other law enforcement officials.

Clements would not comment on whether his office has found that Attias
underwent any medical procedure that involved use of lidocaine in the days
before the crash.

Observers at the scene of the carnage on a crowded residential street have
told investigators that Attias ran around yelling and acting erratic after
the crash.

Attias attorney Robert Sanger and Assistant Dist. Atty. Patrick McKinley
did not return calls Wednesday, but the defense has filed papers saying
some evidence gathered by the CHP should be thrown out.

Sanger has alleged that officials abused their authority during searches of
Attias' Santa Monica home and two "therapeutic schools" the teenager
attended. Sanger argued that some documents seized are protected by
therapist-patient privilege and that the wrongful search has contaminated
the prosecution of the case.