Los Gatos – During this holiday season the CHP has been stepping up patrols in order to help protect the general public from drunk drivers who may be out on the road. The CHP will be ringing in the New Year on the roadway with motorists as part of a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), which begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 4.
According to CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow, “New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world, signifying the beginning of a new year.” Farrow said, “Start the New Year by doing the right thing: designate a sober driver or have a plan in place for a sober ride before the celebration starts.” With one death already reported on New Year’s Eve, making the right decision to stay sober when behind the wheel could save the lives of others as well as your own.
According to CHP records, 21-year-old Forest Christopher Lambert was arrested under PC 191.5(b), felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and under VC 23140, or, 23152, and or 23153 driving under the influence of drugs and or alcohol causing death of his friend. On August 25, 2014 Lambert was driving drunk and drugged in the rural area near Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos when he lost control of his GMC truck. While driving around curbed streets and dangerous turnouts, Lambert lost control trying to navigate a curved left turn and flipped his truck, ejecting Dakota Toy from the passenger side of the vehicle into the tree line.
During the initial investigation by CHP investigators, Lambert had admitted to drinking two beers and smoking several marijuana joints before driving. Lambert told CHP officers that he had been driving his truck on Alma Bridge Road north of Aldercroft Heights Road in Los Gatos when he crashed.
Lambert said he was going around a left hand curb when he realized he was losing control. Trying to straighten the wheel his truck hit a dirt embankment and began roll over the side. After Lambert recovered himself from the crash, he realized that his friend Toy lay lifeless in the passenger seat. He checked for his pulse but found none. Lambert contacted a friend, who along with Lambert called 9-1-1 to report the crash.
A warrant for Lambert’s arrest was issued on October 15, 2014 just a few months after probable cause was determined by the CHP investigators who had responded to the crash scene.
Using a Preliminary Alcohol Screening Device, Lambert had been tested twice, where he registered a 0.47 and 0.45 Blood Alcohol Level. However after admitting to smoking several joints of marijuana, Lambert was unable to walk in a straight line without staggering. After performing several field sobriety tests, it was apparent to CHP that Lambert had been driving under the influence of drugs and or alcohol, and causing the death of Toy.
A witness at the scene said that it appeared that Toy was putting his head out the window to vomit when Lambert hit the dirt berm, throwing Toy into the trees. With posted speed limits of 25 mph, one witness at the scene believed that Lambert had increased his speed to over 40 mph before losing control.
The next court date has been scheduled for Feb 2, 2015 at 1:30 AM in Dept 34.
