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Tests Find Drugs In Victims Of Deadly New Jersey Crash

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) -- Preliminary toxicology tests show three people killed in a high speed crash that left a hole in a New Jersey school had drugs in their blood.

However, Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford says it's not clear whether the drugs contributed to the crash.

Ford announced on Tuesday that metabolized cocaine and the painkiller oxycondone were found in the driver, Matthew Budesa, and in his passengers, Kimberly VanGorden and Matthew Witzgall.

Ford says the metabolized cocaine levels are consistent with cocaine use two or three days prior to the Feb. 3 accident at the Pine Beach elementary school.

The prosecutor says the painkiller found in the driver was at therapeutic levels and officials can't say the 20-year-old was under the influence.

Tests did not find any alcohol in the victims.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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