A man killed in a fiery three-car crash on State Route 67 over the weekend by a suspected DUI driver was remember by his fiancé as a selfless man willing to help anyone.
Lucas Riley, 24, of San Diego, died Saturday night when a truck driven by a suspected DUI driver veered across the center of the road and struck his Mini Cooper head-on, officials said.
“He was the most caring and loving person I ever have known in my entire life. I have never felt more love for him,” Shawna Wickwire, his fiancée, said in an interview with NBC 7 San Diego.
The crash happened at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday and prompted a Sig Alert for the northbound and southbound lanes of State Route 67 near Cloudy Moon Drive, where the crash happened, San Diego County Sheriff Deputies said.
The impact set the Mini Cooper on fire; by the time crews arrived on scene, flames had fully engulfed the car and trapped the victim inside. He died at the scene.
After the crash, authorities could be seen pulling out beer cans from the Chevrolet. The 51-year-old, who has not yet been identified, suffered a broken wrist. He was arrested on alcohol-related charges, including felony vehicular manslaughter.
Wickwire said the couple was planning on getting married this October. She said her husband-to-be was a selfless man, the type of man willing to help anyone.
Local
“He was a great guy with the world ahead of him,” Wickwire said, crying.
Riley was a recent graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University. The university issued a statement, saying Riley was a talented art major who graduated last year.
“The PLNU community is deeply saddened by this sudden and tragic loss. We share in this grief and our prayers are with [his] family, fiancé and friends. [He] studied Art Education at PLNU and was a very talented sculptor. Most recently he was the chief assistant to PLNU art professor, David Adey, in the installation of a permanent public art piece for the County of San Diego. According to Adey, he was incredibly talented, hardworking and a kind and gentle soul who will be greatly missed," the statement read.
His work is on display at the new Cedar Street Parking Garage in Little Italy.
The crash that killed Riley was one of four deadly crashes over the weekend. In three of those crashes, alcohol is suspected to play a role.
Riley’s fiancée had a message for those who would think about getting behind the wheel after a few drinks.
“We’re all really devastated by this, but I think this is almost a platform to, please don’t drink and drive, please,” she pleaded.
His family has set up a GoFundMe as a memorial fund. The money raised will cover funeral expenses. To donate, click here.