An alleged drunk driver accused of killing a Point Loma Nazarene University graduate has been ordered held in jail on $2 million bail.
Lucas Makana Riley, 24, of San Diego, was killed Aug. 20 on state Route 67 in a fiery crash.
Roy Thomas Dunkin, 51, of Ramona, pleaded not guilty Aug. 24 to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol, with injury to three other people.
“The PLNU community is deeply saddened by this sudden and tragic loss,” said PLNU president Bob Brower. “We share in this grief and our prayers are with Lucas’ family, fiancé and friends.”
“A 2014 alum, Lucas studied art education at PLNU and was a very talented sculptor,” said Brower. “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.”
Riley was engaged to Shawna Wickwire, a 2013 PLNU graduate, and they were to be married in October. The public art piece is in Little Italy.
The college president described Riley as “incredibly talented, hardworking, and a kind and gentle soul who will be greatly missed.”
Riley was driving a Mini Cooper that was struck by Dunkin’s Chevrolet pickup truck, which clipped a Buick sedan in front of him, resulting in a head-on crash. Riley’s car burst into flames and he died in his vehicle.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Fred Maguire set a preliminary hearing for Sept. 7. Dunkin had bandages wrapped around his arm as he broke his wrist in the crash. He remains in jail.
Several TV news stations reported that sheriff’s deputies recovered beer cans from Dunkin’s vehicle.
Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright said Riley was one of four people who lost their lives in drunk driving incidents the previous weekend in San Diego.
“Obviously, people aren’t getting the message of not drinking and driving,” said Bright. “This is 100 percent preventable.”
Bright said if Dunkin is convicted of all charges, he could face a maximum prison term of 15 years and four months.