By Khalida Sarwari
It appears that high blood alcohol levels played a role in the accidental drowning of a Stanford University professor at his home in early June, San Mateo County Chief Deputy Coroner Jerry Cohn said today.
On the afternoon of June 5, Rajeev Motwani, a 47-year-old Atherton resident and computer science professor renowned for his academic research and for assisting Silicon Valley start-ups, was found floating in his backyard swimming pool, according to the San Mateo County coroner’s office.
Toxicology results showed Motwani’s blood-alcohol content was .26, more than three times the legal limit for driving.
Motwani was last seen in early June 5 during a party at his home, according to the coroner’s office.
Friends of Motwani said he did not know how to swim, according to a news release issued by the university.
According to the university, Motwani was born in Jammu, India, and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in 1983 and his Ph.D from the University of California at Berkeley, in 1988.
He left behind his wife, Asha Jadeja, two daughters, Naitri and Anya, and two brothers.