A man accused of causing a crash that killed three members of an Arizona family in December 2022 has been indicted, the Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday.
Brian Alexander Torres Perez, now 22, has been charged with three counts of negligent homicide, a second-degree felony, in the crash that killed Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb’s 22-year-old son, Cooper.
Cooper’s fiancée, Caroline Patten, and their 11-month-old daughter also died in the crash.
Cooper Lamb (right), his fiancée Caroline (left), and their 11-month-old daughter died in a crash on Dec. 16, 2022, in Gilbert, Arizona. (Pinal County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
On December 16, 2022, Patten was attempting to make a left turn at the intersection of Elliott Road and Cole Drive in Gilbert, Arizona, when Torres-Perez crashed into the family’s Toyota Corolla in his Chevrolet Silverado, Gilbert Police said at the time.
Cooper and her infant daughter were pronounced dead at the scene, and Patten died at a hospital about a week later, according to Gilbert police.
“The defendant’s reckless disregard for life killed an entire family,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. “After a thorough review of the evidence, it is time for Torres Perez to be held accountable for his actions.”
The young granddaughter of Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash allegedly caused by Brian Alexander Torres Perez. (Pinal County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
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Gilbert police cited speeding, alcohol and other drugs as factors in the crash and presented the case to the Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office in February 2023.
According to a subsequent report from Gilbert Police, Torres-Perez was driving approximately 70 mph (25 mph over the speed limit) when he struck the family’s vehicle. A blood sample taken from Torres-Perez showed a blood alcohol content of 0.03 and positive levels of THC.
Brian Alexander Torres Perez, now 22, was charged with three counts of negligent homicide in connection with the December 2022 crash that killed three family members, including Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb’s son.
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Torres-Perez is being held by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office with bail set at $150,000.
