The driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a tree in Pacific Beach and killed the man illegally riding in the truck’s bed was driving erratically while drunk and deliberately swerved on the road to scare the passenger, a prosecutor said.
After hearing from four passengers in the truck, San Diego Superior Court Judge David Gill on July 9 ordered Quinton Lamar Dickens, 25, to stand trial for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and for causing great bodily injuries to the passengers, who suffered broken bones.
Dickens, of El Cajon, is accused of causing the death of Nikko Maeva, 19, of Mira Mesa, who suffered blunt force trauma on April 8 at 2:32 a.m. when the Dodge Ram pickup struck a tree on Lamont Street near Thomas Avenue. It was estimated that Dickens was driving at approximately 58 mph when the speed limit is 30 mph.
During the 1 1/2 day preliminary hearing, Gill heard testimony that the group was drinking beer and rum at a bonfire at Ski Beach. Gill noted that one person said Dickens was “the least drunk” among them, and it was his truck, so he drove the group that night. Dickens had four passengers inside the truck and Maeva was in the back, for a total of six occupants in the vehicle.
Deputy District Attorney James Simmons told the judge the death resulted from a combination of drinking, Dickens deliberately swerving the truck to scare Maeva and Dickens allowing a passenger in the bed of the truck.
“He did an act that is dangerous to life,” Simmons said.
Dickens’ attorney, Robert Ford, contends his client says another vehicle was behind him and struck him and left the scene of the accident.
Simmons responded by saying, “There’s no physical evidence the truck was struck by another vehicle,” and noted the passengers did not testify about any other car.
San Diego police officers and accident scene reconstruction experts testified about the path of skid marks and tire treads and damages to the truck and tree. Despite the defendant’s claim, they said there was no evidence of another vehicle being involved.
Maeva apparently stood up during the drive, according to testimony. Ford said the group sang loudly to songs on the radio.
“All the people were particularly lit up,” Ford said.
“They were all close friends and devastated by the death,” said the judge.
The prosecutor amended the charges during the hearing to include allegations the passengers suffered great bodily injuries, which included fractures to ribs, backs and legs. Dickens was also injured, and his blood/alcohol level was .12 about 1 1/2 hours after the incident, according to testimony.
If convicted of all charges, Dickens faces a maximum sentence of 24 years in state prison. At the end of the hearing, Dickens pleaded not guilty to all charges and Gill set a trial date for Aug. 28.
Ford said some of the passengers are getting attorneys to represent them so they can sue Dickens for damages.
“It’s a sad case. Somebody died,” he added.
Dickens remains free on $100,000 bond.