A San Diego man accused of causing the death of his passenger when he allegedly drove drunk and struck a tree in Pacific Beach posted $100,000 bond June 27 after a judge substantially lowered his $500,000 bail at his attorney’s request.
Quinton Lamar Dickens, 25, left county jail at 10:15 p.m. Friday, June 27. He is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter in the April 8 death of Nikko Maeva, 19, of Mira Mesa, who was riding alone in the bed of a pickup truck allegedly driven by Dickens.
According to court reports, Dickens was driving his 2003 Dodge Ram pickup at 58 mph on Lamont Street near Thomas Avenue when he drifted onto the wrong side of the road at 2:32 a.m. The report says Dickens swerved right and struck a large tree. Maeva was violently thrown forward and suffered head injuries. He died in a hospital a half hour later.
Dickens and four other passengers who were crowded together in the truck’s cab also suffered broken bones. They were all taken to a hospital for fractured ribs, legs and back injuries. Earlier in the evening, the group was at a bonfire at Ski Beach, and Dickens drank beer and rum. His blood/alcohol level was .12 at the hospital, according to court records.
Charges were not filed against him until June 17, and the District Attorney’s Office sent him a letter informing him of the charges. Dickens didn’t show up for his arraignment, so a judge issued a $500,000 warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and pleaded not guilty on June 24.
The $500,000 bail was set because he didn’t show up in court, but bail amounts for vehicular manslaughter cases are usually set around $100,000. San Diego Superior Court Judge Roger Krauel reduced the bail June 27 at his attorney’s request.
A preliminary hearing was set for July 8. A prosecutor couldn’t be reached for comment.