A California sheriff’s deputy has been charged in connection with a high-speed, on-duty crash last year that killed a man and severely injured his fiancée, prosecutors said.
The deputy, Glynn Wilburn, 42, of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, felony reckless driving causing serious injury, and great bodily injury enhancement, according to a statement from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday.
Deputy Wilburn has been placed on administrative leave, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office said.
A spokeswoman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office said on Friday that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
The charges stem from a collision that took place on Sept. 6, 2025, in Beaumont, Calif., which is about 77 miles east of Los Angeles.
Investigators said that Deputy Wilburn was responding with his vehicle’s lights and sirens on to a report that shots had been fired in Calimesa, another city in Riverside County.
“While traveling on Cherry Valley Boulevard at speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour, Wilburn entered an intersection and collided with a civilian vehicle at approximately 71 m.p.h.,” the district attorney’s office said.
The driver of the other vehicle, Gavin Hinkley, 21, was killed, the authorities said. His fiancée, Madeline Fox, 20, who was a passenger in the 2018 Tesla Model 3, was severely injured.
Prosecutors said that, moments before the crash, the sheriff’s office dispatchers had confirmed that there were no reported injuries in the shooting and that a suspect had driven away from the scene.
Deputy Wilburn, who was not wearing a seatbelt in his Ford Explorer at the time of the crash, had minor injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The families of Mr. Hinkley and Ms. Fox filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Deputy Wilburn and Riverside County, as well the cities of Beaumont and Calimesa.
“The young couple had a bright future together,” the complaint says. “They were set to be married a month after this horrific collision and were running errands for their wedding at the time.”
Through their lawyers, the families released statements on Friday responding to the charges.
“We will continue to honor Gavin’s memory, stand beside Madeline, and fight for the justice they both deserve,” Mr. Hinkley’s parents, Lauren and Cory Hinkley, said.
Ms. Fox’s parents, Melissa and Jason Fox, said they were “grateful that the Riverside County District Attorney has taken this important step and filed criminal charges on behalf of Gavin and Madeline.”
“The justice system is moving in the right direction,” they added, “and that accountability will ultimately prevail.”
Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, said in a statement on Friday that “the California Highway Patrol conducted a very thorough investigation, and our D.A.’s Office determined the driving actions of our deputy rose to the level of negligence.”
“This incident claimed the life of a young man and forever changed the life of a young woman who was a passenger,” he added. “My heart goes out to the families of both victims.”
It was not immediately clear if Deputy Wilburn had a lawyer. The deputy could not be immediately reached on Friday.
The Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, a union that represents police officers from agencies in the area, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Michael A. Hestrin, the Riverside County district attorney, said in a statement on Friday that “when a case involves an on-duty law enforcement officer, we have a responsibility to carefully evaluate the circumstances unique to that role, including the nature of the call, the officer’s response and the legal standards that govern emergency vehicle operations.”
If convicted, Deputy Wilburn faces up to 14 years in prison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office said.
Susan C. Beachy contributed research.
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