Published: June 27, 2008 09:14 am         

Pot found in vehicle of double-fatality wreck

Danie M. Huffman

Lone Star News Group

A Texas Department of Public of Safety report on a double-fatality wreck June 20 east of Mineral Wells states marijuana was found inside the car.

The head-on crash involving a car and a motorcycle happened in the westbound lanes of U.S. Highway 180 at Saddle Club Road.

Around 11 p.m., Janet E. Barrett, 57, of The Colony, was driving a 1994 Mazda Miata. Robert O. Byrd, also 57, of Weatherford, was driving a 2002 ASVE motorcycle.

Authorities said marijuana was found in Barrett’s vehicle inside a pill bottle with the label removed.

According to the report, Barrett was traveling east on U.S. 180 and Byrd was traveling west.

Trooper Don DeLukie said it is unknown why Barrett was in the wrong lane.

A witness reported Byrd having passed them just before the accident happened, but said he was not speeding.

“It happened at a hilltop,” DeLukie said. “There were no brake marks. There were no skid marks. Neither one of them saw each other until it was too late.”

The posted speed limit is 65 mph.

A medical examiner pronounced the pair dead on the scene.

The front, left side of the Mazda struck the motorcycle, while traveling in the inside westbound lane. DeLukie said Byrd’s motorcycle “shot back to the right and ended in the north barrow ditch, while [Barrett’s] vehicle spun around.”

DeLukie said it would take 10-15 days for an autopsy report to be completed to determine if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the fatal crash.