Foothill Ranch Woman Arrested For DUI, Murder: OCSD

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA — A Foothill Ranch woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder, following a 2016 fatal vehicle collision. She was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. With blood alcohol double the legal limits, she was driving at over 100-miles per hour, investigators discovered.

"On Oct. 1, 2016, at approximately 2:15 a.m. Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies and the Orange County Fire Authority responded to an injury traffic collision on eastbound Alton Pkwy between the 241 toll road and Towne Centre Drive in the city of Lake Forest.

Deputies located two involved vehicles, a Hyundai sedan and a Ford pickup with major damage. The male driver of the Ford pickup was identified as Jose Barrazasoto 42-year-old resident of Santa Ana. Barrazasota was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The female driver of the Hyundai sedan was identified as then 24-year-old Jacie Cornish of Foothill Ranch. Cornish suffered minor injuries and was admitted to the hospital.

"Based on Cornish’s objective symptoms of intoxication, a warrant was obtained for Cornish’s blood," OCSD Public Affairs Manager Jaimee Blashaw wrote in a a recent release. "Cornish had a prior DUI conviction in August 2015 in Orange County. That former DUI made this case eligible for a “Watson Murder.”

"A Watson murder is where someone has been previously admonished about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and is later involved in a fatal collision while under the influence," Blashaw said.

Over the course of the following year, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Reconstruction Team completed a thorough investigation. The test results of Cornish’s blood were examined, and Cornish’s blood alcohol level showed her to be .17 percent, more than double the legal limit of .08 percent. Along with alcohol, traceable amounts of THC (Marijuana) were present at the time of the blood draw.

"Evidence also showed Cornish was traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour in a 40 zone at time of impact, causing Barrazasoto’s vehicle to roll, thus causing fatal injuries and injuring his spouse who was in the passenger seat," Blashaw wrote.

On Jan. 12, 2018, the OC District Attorney filed the case and issued a 1 million dollar warrant for Cornish’s arrest for PC 187 (Murder). On Jan. 15, 2018, Cornish was arrested in the city of Orange on the outstanding warrant and was booked at the Orange County Jail.

Cornish is facing 15 years-to-life in prison, if convicted.

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