Michael Hastings Had Relapsed Into Drug Use At Time Of His Death, Coroner Says

[JaneyVee]

Source: Huffington Post

The late journalist Michael Hastings had traces of drugs in his system when he died, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.

Hastings was killed in a car crash in Los Angeles in June. He was 33.

The coroners who examined him found "traces of amphetamine in his system, consistent with possible intake of methamphetamine many hours before death, as well as marijuana," the Times wrote. "Neither were considered a factor in the crash, according to toxicology reports."

The ultimate verdict: Hastings' death was an accident.

The coroner said Hastings' family had been attempting to get him to go to detox at the time of his death, and that he had relapsed into drugs a month before he died, after 14 years of sobriety.

Hastings' death prompted an outpouring of conspiracy theories. Elise Jordan, Hastings' widow, rejected those theories in an interview with Piers Morgan in early August. She said she thought her late husband's death was a "tragic accident."


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/michael-hastings-drugs-death_n_3786679.html

[99th_Monkey]

1. "Neither were considered a factor in the crash" <-- noteworthy ~nt~

[dkf]

2. But only trace amounts so he wasn't even high at the time of the crash.

[geek tragedy]

22. No, but very possibly sleep deprived. In any event, the looney tunes conspiracy wackos are looking

pretty silly for going on and on about his car being electronically hacked by the NSA.

[dkf]

29. I don't see what this proves or disproves.

[geek tragedy]

30. the evidence is all pointing towards an accident on the part of a guy

who was mentally not in a good place.

Hastings had arrived in Los Angeles from New York the day before the accident, with his brother scheduled to arrive later the day of the crash "as his family was attempting to get [Hastings] to go to detox," the report stated.

Hastings was believed sober for 14 years, but had recently begun using drugs again in the past month or so, according to the coroner's office, based on interviews with family members.

A medical marijuana card was found in Hastings wallet and had been prescribed for treatment of post-traumatic stress resulting from his time as a war journalist in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hours before the crash, Hastings had last been seen by one witness "passed out" sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. The crash occurred just before 5 a.m.

In an interview with CNN, Hastings' widow Elise Jordan called the crash a “really tragic accident.”

Drug addicts who are in between fixes are not in a good place.

[dkf]

31. So he needed rehab. He was still not high at the time.

It still makes no sense.

Now if he had overdosed, then that would be understandable. But that crazy car crash? Doesn't make sense.

[geek tragedy]

34. Car crashes never make sense.

People who are abusing drugs are affected by them 24/7 in one way or another. Even when they're not high.

Just like people who drink coffee all the time can be a wreck before they have their first cup in the morning.

He was passed out at 1:00 AM but driving the streets of LA before 5:00?

Dude was in a bad, bad state.

Family has accepted that it was an accident.

Whether random Internet commenters can get past their irrational suspicions is quite immaterial. The matter is resolved for all those who matter.

[Smarmie Doofus]

38. So you won't be commenting on this topic ever again.

>>>Whether random Internet commenters can get past their irrational suspicions is quite immaterial. The matter is resolved for all those who matter. >>>

Right?

[geek tragedy]

39. If the infowars crowd persists in peddling their junk here, I may object nt

[Lonr]

41. Nothing "looney tunish"

about critically assessing the evidence and trying to determine the truth of the event. It is pretty silly to blindly believe what the corporate owned press tells you to believe!

[geek tragedy]

42. All of the facts/evidence pointed to a tragic car accident.

It's been nutjobs like Alex Jones and Kimberley Dvorak pushing the conspiracy angle.

[NoMoreWarNow]

53. no-- the story was fishy from the beginning

it's only people with a conspiracy bent who kept pursuing this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017139940

[NoMoreWarNow]

3. well, that explains everything, doesn't it?

Jeesh, what a whitewash.

[MADem]

11. It's not a whitewash; he had mental health issues--read the LAT article and the autopsy.

I think I'll take the word of his brothers and wife before I believe any ginned up conspiracy theories on the internet.

[geek tragedy]

16. Thank you for giving us the Infowars/Alex Jones perspective. Now, back to your fantasy world, nt

[Cha]

33. Yeah, facts you don't want to hear are such

a "whitewash", aren't they?

[NoMoreWarNow]

51. but these "facts" don't explain the crash-- that's the issue

[MADem]

4. I had heard that rumor, but I was prepared to wait for some responsible confirmation of it.

When his wife didn't jump on the "TPTB Done Did It" conspiracy bandwagon, like a few folks did, I was pretty certain that it was either something mechanical or a slip back into his old ways.

That meth is a helluva drug.

His trouble started up again when he made the decision to work for Buzzfeed and move to the west coast--he should have stayed in the east. A real shame....about the only saving grace is that he died very quickly, he didn't suffer.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-michael-hastings-meth-coroner-20130820,0,5038230.story

Hastings had arrived in Los Angeles from New York the day before the accident, with his brother scheduled to arrive later the day of the crash "as his family was attempting to get [Hastings] to go to detox," the report stated.

Hastings was believed sober for 14 years, but had recently begun using drugs again in the past month or so, according to the coroner's office, based on interviews with family members.

A medical marijuana card was found in Hastings wallet and had been prescribed for treatment of post-traumatic stress resulting from his time as a war journalist in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hours before the crash, Hastings had last been seen by one witness "passed out" sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. The crash occurred just before 5 a.m.

[NoMoreWarNow]

6. his wife may be either scared or in denial

only trace amounts of anything were in his system at the accident, and even he if was on drugs, it doesn't explain the absolutely bizarre crash scene. Or the cover-up and intense secrecy.

[MADem]

13. Nonsense. You want a theory? He was suicidal and he didn't wanna go to rehab.

He couldn't beat back the anxiety and depression. It was nice of the coroner to call it an accident.

That explains the crash scene.

You seriously think his brothers, who had come on from NY and who were there to muscle him into rehab, would sit by passively if they thought someone tried to do him in? Please. They KNEW what he was like when he was in the throes of addiction. They'd been through it before.

Put that dog down--it's just not credible.

[dkf]

32. Suicidal? Where have you read that?

[7962]

44. MADem said "you want a theory?" Thats what the suicide is. eom

[geek tragedy]

20. So now you're smearing his wife in order to maintain your nutjob conspiracy theory's validity.

Your Infowars types are sadly predictable.

[NoMoreWarNow]

52. why is it a smear? Those would be normal reactions if there was some real threat

to her husband. Rather, you are smearing me with a label that is not true.

[JDPriestly]

35. Meth is a horror drug. It destroys the user's teeth, body, marriage, family life, the lives of

everyone associated with the user. It takes over gradually and very often, maybe almost always (from the limited cases I have seen) ends in the death of the user somehow either through illness or an accident or crime.

Don't get involved with it. If you have children and get involved with meth, you stand a good chance of losing your kids. Just stay away.

I have known of cases in which a middle class career woman somehow got started taking meth because one of her co-workers or friends told her it would make her feel better. Be careful. Don't take pills or drugs your friends offer you. They (the pills and thus your "friends) can end your life.

The odd thing about meth is that I have known middle class people who got involved with it. Stay away. Please. It is a horrible nightmare for those who take it.

So many divorces can be blamed on meth, and the drug often appeals to women (in my experience).

[MADem]

47. Yep, it's a helluva drug.

I didn't mean that in an "endorsing" kind of way, if that's what you thought.

I meant it in a "Rick James" kind of way....

[Cha]

37. I had no clue there was any addiction going on with

Michael Hastings. But, I did wonder why he was going so fast that night as to hit a palm tree so hard that resulted in that terrible crash.

[MADem]

45. The rumor was flying before the fire was out, pretty much.

I don't think he was a very contented fellow, poor guy. I feel sorry for his family; the whole situation has to be doubly horrific for them, especially since they were trying to get him to go to rehab.

[MarkLaw]

5. Amphetamine can be a metabolite of many prescriptions and OTC drugs.

If it wasn't considered a factor in his death the levels must have been EXTREMELY low, meaning he hadn't used whatever spiked the levels for at least 3 days, up to 2 weeks.

[dawn frenzy adams]

7. Well.

If you saw that raw footage of Hasting's car, from the cops parked on that side street, he was flying. I thought immediately, he was probably intoxicated.

[JaneyVee]

12. I actually thought he may have fell asleep which would have put pressure

On the accelerator, then he woke up quickly, grabbed the wheel, which caused the car to wobble and lose control. I think the accident occurred around 3am, which is why maybe he fell asleep?

[Plucketeer]

8. I still find it astounding that he's gone

Conspiracy, drugs, fear........ I doubt we'll EVER know the real truth. "Accident" is about as all-containing a colander.

[geek tragedy]

19. So, his family is in on the cover up now?

Did you read that at infowars?

[pnwmom]

23. You don't believe his widow, who said it was a tragic accident,

or his brother, who said he had been taking meth, a hallucinogen, and medical marijuana in the preceding month; that he had had feelings of invincibility; and that the family had just gathered to stage an intervention?

[geek tragedy]

24. I'm assuming you've debated the infowars wing of DU before,

so this really can't be a surprise.

[pnwmom]

25. I always hope to run into someone who can listen to reason.

Or who might at least be able to read the autopsy report.

[Plucketeer]

46. Here's the thing.....

I'm in my late 60s. I'm happy that, unlike many of my peers, I can get most of my "news" from the internet, but..... I don't believe it as if it's irrefutable just because it shows up here via magical wires and airwaves.

[kimbutgar]

9. Saw him TYT show about 2 weeks before he died and he looked like he was on drugs

I had seen him several times on the Chris Hayes weekend show but the last time I saw him I said to my husband "he looks like he is on drugs"' my husband agreed he looked high I was thinking it was meth. RIP Michael your voice will be missed. The poor guy obviously had demons.

[MADem]

14. His brothers said he was off the wagon for at least a month.

He'd been on the west coast for about three months. He was just getting cranked into the Buzzfeed job.

Shame. I guess he couldn't get a handle on the anxiety, etc.

[name not needed]

43. Well clearly you're in on it.

Out with it, how much are the lizard people paying you?

[kimbutgar]

50. Why are you so mean?

Lonely?

[olddots]

10. this won't go away

Something very hinky is involved .

[geek tragedy]

17. that 'something hinky' is between the ears of the conspiracy theorists nt

[Iggo]

15. Mm-hmm.

[geek tragedy]

18. Your faith in the Alex Jones conspiracy theory is touching.

Who needs facts and evidence when you can have baseless suspicions!!!

[Iggo]

26. Got all that from "Mm-hmm", did ya?

Sweet!

[geek tragedy]

27. Mmm hmmm =skepticism towards the medical report and the statement from the family

Which by implication means leaning towards the Alex Jones conspirazoid reaction to this tragedy.

[geek tragedy]

21. K&R for the truth, evidence, and reason-based inquiry. nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. This just doesn't have the same pizzaz as the CIA takeout rumor. nt

[JenniferJuniper]

36. I've never read an autopsy report quite like this one

And I've read plenty of autopsies of people who've been killed in car crashes.

Coroners usually just stick only to the physical evidence. They don't delve into drug histories or stories about planned family interventions when a toxicology report comes back essentially negative and drugs/alcohol did not play a direct role in the accident.

I think he had mental health issues and committed suicide. The accident happened the day after what would have been his late fiancée's 35th birthday; maybe that was a trigger of some sort. But the "bending over backward" feel of this autopsy report may actually end up adding more fuel to the conspiracy flames. That and the fact that crashing into a palm tree is usually not the most effective way to off oneself.

[freshwest]

40. 33 is pretty young to die. He had a busy life. Sorry he wasn't able to survive all of it. Not all do

[struggle4progress]

48. We know from police cruiser cam that Hastings ran a red light at N Highland and Santa Monica

Video from a outdoor pizzaria surveillance cam show the car passing, followed shortly by a fireball. Between police cruiser cam of arrival at the crash scene and the pizzaria footage, it's possible to estimate the Hasting's speed at 60-80 mph. The local speed limit is 25 mph. The pizzaria video may show a trail of sparks from the car's left side as it passes.

Four blocks up from the red light at N Highland and Santa Monica, just after crossing Waring, N Highland switches from an undivided road to residential parkway with a tree-planted median dividing northbound and southbound traffic. If Hastings was driving at high speed, it's entirely possible he had driven onto and off the front of the curbed median where N Highland first divides, damaging one or more tires and possibly the underbelly of his auto. This might produce something like a dragging muffler or oilpan; and with tire damage he might have been driving on at least one wheel rim by the time he crossed Santa Monica. That could explain the apparent trail of sparks, and front left tire damage could produce a sudden steering difficulty, with a tendency of the car to veer left

[zappaman]

49. Great post!

And it shows you no the area unlike all the internet sleuths.
A tragic accident.

[Jesus Malverde]

55. Drug addict..eh

explains everything

sarcasm thingy