A tragic event unfolded on the eastbound Interstate 8 in Grantville when a La Mesa police officer and a civilian were killed by a suspected DUI driver late Monday, as reported by NBC San Diego. Officer Lauren Craven, 25, was struck outside her vehicle while she was responding to an initial traffic collision. A second victim, identified by the family as 19-year-old De'Veonte Morris, also perished in the ensuing crash.
According to FOX 5/KUSI, the suspect, 38-year-old Antonio Alcantar of La Mesa, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI. The series of collisions involved five vehicles and occurred around 10:22 PM on Monday, leading to multiple injuries aside from the two fatalities. CHP Captain Reggie Williams emphasized the importance of vigilance on the roads, stating, "We ask the public, when you see lights on the roadway, slow down and move over; that is the actually the law."
The incident began with a two-car crash on I-8, with one of the vehicles overturning and being struck by another. Officer Craven, who joined the La Mesa Police Department in February 2024, was rendering aid when the Toyota Camry driven by Alcantar hit her and the crashed cars. A procession was held Thursday morning for Officer Craven, which journeyed from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to El Camino Memorial Park.
Alcantar suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital before his arrest on DUI charges, as also noted by FOX 5/KUSI. The La Mesa Police Department mourned the loss of Officer Craven, acknowledging her "unwavering dedication to service and the safety of others" in the department's social media posts. Morris' family shared his memory with NBC San Diego, recalling him as "loving, caring, respectful" and a caretaker for his younger brother.
