The driver of a car that killed a Chittenango woman walking her dog Wednesday was under the influence of multiple narcotics and had been ticketed for two collisions within the past month, state police said this morning.



Jason Forshee, 37, of 519 Dyke Road, Chittenango, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor, state police said.



Forshee was driving his 2010 Toyota Camry east on Route 5 in the town of Sullivan around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday when he struck Lynn M. Eggert, 57, of Lonsdale Road, who was walking her dog with her husband, Steven Eggert.



Eye witnesses said the driver's side of Forshee's car struck Eggert, launching her body into the air. She died at University Hospital. Her husband and Forshee were not injured in the crash.





Forshee was evaluated after the collision by a drug recognition expert, who determined he was impaired by a number of narcotics, said New York State Trooper Jack Keller. Forshee later told troopers he had smoked marijuana within 12 hours, Keller said.



Forshee told state police that he was looking down at his cell phone at the time of the accident, Keller said.



"He said he took his eyes off the road to look at his cell phone, which was ringing," Keller said.



Keller said Forshee was driving a rental car Wednesday, after rear-ending a vehicle around 2 p.m. Tuesday on Seneca Turnpike in Lenox. He was ticketed for following too closely in that case.



Forshee was involved in another crash in Canastota on Oct. 19, in which he was charged with speeding.

Forshee posted $5,000 bail and was released from Madison County Jail Wednesday. He will appear in Sullivan Court at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 16.



The Madison County District Attorney's office will decide whether to pursue further charges, Keller said.

Keller said Steven Eggert was walking next to his wife at the time of the accident.

“He was holding the leash for the dog when he heard a thump,” said Keller, adding that Lynn Eggert’s body was thrown 50 feet into the air by the impact. The couple’s dog ran away after the accident; it later returned to their home, less than a block from the site of the accident.

Lynn Eggert worked for Laboratory Alliance of CNY at St. Joseph's Hospital for 37

years. The couple had lived in the home on Lonsdale Road for about 15 years; her family includes daughter Stephanie Murray, three stepchildren and four grandchildren.

The couple devoted much of their time volunteering at First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango, where Lynn Eggert served as deacon. She tended to the landscaping in

front of the church in the heart of the village and also organized the local Crop Walk.

“Anything we needed, they would be here,” the Rev. Dennis Doerr said of Lynn and Steven Eggert. “She had a great big heart for folks and she was pleased to do that kind of service.”