The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced on Thursday that Brian Alexander Torres-Perez, 22, has been indicted on three counts of manslaughter, a class two felony, for his involvement in a crash that resulted in the deaths of a family of three in Arizona in December 2022.
The tragic incident occurred when Torres-Perez allegedly struck a Toyota Corolla, carrying Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb's 22-year-old son, Cooper, his fiancée Caroline Patten, and their 11-month-old daughter, as Patten was making a left turn at Elliot Road and Cole Drive in Gilbert, Arizona.
Cooper and his infant daughter were pronounced dead at the scene, while Patten succumbed to her injuries at the hospital nearly a week later. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell expressed, 'This defendant’s reckless disregard for life wiped out an entire family. After an extensive review of the evidence, it’s time for Torres-Perez to be held responsible for his actions.'
Gilbert police, who investigated the crash, cited excessive speed, alcohol, and other drugs as contributing factors. Torres-Perez was driving at approximately 70 mph, 25 mph over the speed limit, at the time of the collision. Blood samples taken from Torres-Perez revealed a blood alcohol content level of .03 and the presence of THC.
Torres-Perez is currently in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, with a cash bond set at $150,000. The case was submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in February 2023, leading to the indictment of Torres-Perez on manslaughter charges.
