Section 27491.25 Of Article 2. Inquests From California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 3. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 10. >> Article 2.
27491.25
. The coroner, or the coroner's appointed deputy, on being
notified of a death occurring while the deceased was driving or
riding in a motor vehicle, or as a result of the deceased being
struck by a motor vehicle, shall take blood and urine samples from
the body of the deceased before it has been prepared for burial and
make appropriate related chemical tests to determine the alcoholic
contents, if any, of the body. The coroner may perform other chemical
tests including, but not limited to, barbituric acid and amphetamine
derivative as deemed appropriate.
The detailed medical findings, resulting from those examinations
that are conducted, shall either be reduced to writing or permanently
preserved on recording discs or other similar recording media and
shall include all positive and negative findings pertinent to the
presence or absence of any alcoholic or other substance content.
This section shall not apply to the testing of deceased persons
under the age of 15 years, unless the surrounding circumstances
indicate the possibility of alcoholic, barbituric acid, and
amphetamine derivative consumption, nor shall it apply when the death
has occurred more than 24 hours after the accident.