Man Arrested In Suspected DUI Crash That Killed Passenger Near Los Gatos

A 20-year-old man was arrested early this morning after his pickup truck veered off of a road and down an embankment, killing a passenger in Santa Clara County outside of Los Gatos, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Forest Christopher Lambert, a Santa Clara resident, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, CHP Officer Ross Lee said.

At about 3:30 a.m., Lambert was driving a 1998 GMC Sonoma pickup about 40 mph southbound on Alma Bridge Road north of Aldercroft Heights Road about a half-mile east of state Highway 17, Lee said.

The driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered to the right shoulder, struck a dirt berm at the top of an embankment on the west side and went down the embankment, Lee said.

A 20-year-old man in the right front side of the pickup was ejected from an open passenger window onto the embankment, where he suffered fatal injuries, according to the CHP.

The truck continued down the embankment, overturned and came to a stop, CHP officials said. CHP officers were dispatched to the scene and shut down traffic in both directions on Alma Bridge Road. Medical personnel also arrived and pronounced the passenger dead at the scene.

His name is not yet being released pending notification of his family members, according to the CHP.

Lambert was transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and was arrested there at 4:38 a.m., CHP officials said.

--Bay City News