Harris was ‘full of life’

Costa Mesa police are investigating the possibility that a Huntington Beach woman and her boyfriend after a morning of drinking raced in separate cars in Costa Mesa before she was killed in a weekend crash.

Investigators are waiting for blood tests from the Orange County coroner to determine if Sara Noel Harris, 21, had been drinking.

While the investigation went on, those close to Harris mourned as funeral arrangements were set for Harris, who starred as a softball pitcher at Huntington Beach High School.

“She was just a young gorgeous, gorgeous girl and this is just tragic,” said Tammy Gagnon, who worked with Harris as a waitress at the Players Sports Grill in Laguna Hills. “She was totally full of life.”

Police say her boyfriend, whom they declined to name, told them during questioning that the two had been drinking Sunday morning at Billy’s At the Beach on West Coast Highway in Newport Beach.

The boyfriend told police he and Harris left the bar at 2 p.m. to pick up one of his cars at her parents’ house in south Huntington Beach, Traffic Investigator Jeff Horn said. Harris had been drinking beers, while the boyfriend had a few Mai Tais, Horn said the boyfriend told police.

Harris drove a black Audi, and the boyfriend drove a silver Audi, both of which were registered to the boyfriend, Horn said.

Just before 2:30 p.m., the couple headed east up Adams Avenue into Costa Mesa where several witnesses reported seeing the two cutting in and out of traffic “from at least Albatross Drive to Mesa Verde Drive,” Horn said.

Harris’ boyfriend told investigators the two had been “horse-playing with the vehicles,” Horn said.

The boyfriend told police he had pulled ahead of Harris just before the Mesa Verde Drive traffic light and lost sight of her, Horn said.

He also told police he assumed Harris got caught up at the red light, Horn added.

After the crash, Harris’ cell phone continued ringing with calls from the boyfriend, Horn said. The boyfriend said he was trying to find out where she was, Horn added.

“Speed is definitely a factor in this case,” Horn said.

The investigation shows that Harris, who was wearing her seat belt, may have overturned on the curve just before the Mesa Verde Drive light, then over-corrected the turn before the car careened over three lanes of traffic into the pole, Horn said.

Harris died of multiple traumatic injuries, according to the county coroner’s office. It usually takes about two weeks to get the results from blood tests.

Harris’ death has moved both strangers and old friends.

The memorial at Adams Avenue and Mesa Verde Drive included bouquets of flowers duct-taped around the base of the light pole that Harris smashed into Sunday, and an 8-by-11 portrait of Harris and poster boards displaying messages from friends, family and passersby.

“We will always love you,” one of the inscriptions read. “You will always be in our hearts.”

Huntington Beach High softball coach Jack Lipscomb, who coached Harris for one year during her prep career and also during her earlier softball-playing days, remembered Harris as a talented pitcher with a vibrant personality.

“She was just a fun kid who had a lot of energy,” Lipscomb said. “She was a dynamite pitcher when she was younger and continued that way in high school. I feel just horrible for her family. I can’t imagine something like this. I have three kids, and it hits close to home.

“Something like this rips at your heart.”

A photographic slide-show memorial in Harris’ honor has been set up.

Funeral services for Harris will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Christ Presbyterian Church, 20112 Magnolia St., Huntington Beach. For more information, call the church at (714) 968-4940.

— Michael Sciacca contributed to this report