Man drove drunk, flipped car in University Place wreck that killed passenger, charges say
A 21-year-old man was charged Tuesday with vehicular homicide for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol last year when he crashed his car in University Place at high speed, killing his passenger.
Kaleb Gabriel Vogt was charged in Pierce County Superior Court for the May 7 wreck on Bridgeport Way West that ended with 21-year-old Joshua Gyer pronounced dead at an area hospital. Vogt was also hospitalized with severe injuries, and toxicology testing found his blood alcohol content was .09, just above the legal limit of .08.
Vogt was summoned for an arraignment hearing set for Jan. 16. He does not appear to have an attorney listed in court records.
Charging documents alleged that Vogt was driving north in a 2015 Nissan 370Z when it passed another car, made two lane changes and lost control of the vehicle, swerving off the roadway and flipping in the air. Sheriff’s Department officials previously said the vehicle hit a tree and a fence, and it came to a rest in front of a dog daycare and a law office.
It’s unclear how fast Vogt was driving. Bridgeport Way has a speed limit of 35 mph in that area, and the driver he passed told investigators the Nissan went by her at a high rate of speed. Sheriff’s deputies previously said they considered speed a factor in the wreck.
A University Place Police Department deputy found the Nissan facing south between two yards, according to the declaration for determination of probable cause. The roof was crushed, Vogt was in the driver’s seat and Gyer was in the passenger’s seat. Records state they were in “grave” condition.
Deputies identified the registered owner of the Nissan as Vogt’s girlfriend at the time, records state. She said they co-owned the car, and she allegedly said Vogt had been drinking.
Vogt and Gyer were the only two occupants of the vehicle, and they were both transported to Tacoma General Hospital. Prosecutors noted in charging papers that Vogt’s blood draw was delayed by several hours.
The Pierce County medical examiner later determined that Gyer died of blunt head and torso trauma. He grew up in University Place, according to his obituary, and he graduated from Curtis Senior High School in 2020. He had a love for the Puget Sound, according to the obit, and he worked for several years at Narrows Marina.
Gyer married a woman described as his high school sweetheart and best friend in August 2022, according to the obit, and a GoFundMe was started after the fatal crash to raise money for his wife and for funeral expenses. More than $16,000 was donated.
