Coroner: Dakota Culkin 'Likely Impaired' by Alcohol Before Crash

By Ken Lee

Tuesday January 20, 2009 11:45 AM EST

Macaulay Culkin with his sister Dakota.

Splash News Online

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Dakota Culkin, who died after being accidentally struck by a car Dec. 9 in Los Angeles, was "more than likely impaired due to alcohol," Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner tells PEOPLE.

Culkin, 29, had traces of alcohol in her system, Corral said, although it wasn't immediately known what her blood alcohol level was. Culkin, who had recently moved to L.A. to pursue a career in film production, had reportedly just left a Marina Del Rey bar before she crossed the street and was hit.

Culkin's family also indicated to investigators that she'd been going to therapy for alcohol addiction, Corral said.

Shortly after her death, a manager for siblings Macaulay, Rory and Kieran Culkin told PEOPLE that the brothers were "absolutely heartbroken" over their sister's passing.

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