According to a story appearing on The Daily Bulletin website, a man who is a co-owner of a brewery in Riverside has been charged with DUI murder for his role in a fatal crash in Ontario on March 31.
According to a statement released by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, 39-year-old Ryan Cavender Wicks is listed as the co-owner of Wick’s Brewing in Riverside alongside his father. Wicks is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and having caused a crash that left an Oceanside man dead.
The California Highway Patrol report indicates that the crash happened at approximately 1:00 a.m. on the northbound 15 Freeway near Jurupa Avenue. The victim was traveling at about 70 miles per hour in the left lane. Wicks rear-ended the victim’s vehicle while traveling at an estimated speed of 100 miles per hour. The collision caused the victim’s car to go over an embankment, where it rolled and landed on its roof.
The crash killed the male driver, and his wife, who was also inside the vehicle, was injured.
Court documents indicate that the younger Wicks was convicted of DUI in 2005 and signed a Watson advisement. Wicks was advised that if he were to drink and drive in the future and cause injury or death, the previous conviction could be used against him in any future charges. Jacquely Rodriguez, acting as a representative for the DA’s office, said that this and other factors led to the charge of murder against Wicks.
The surviving adult children of the victim have filed suit against Wicks and the Brewery –restaurant and seek damages for wage loss, property damage, pain and suffering, and other additional damages. The lawsuit alleges that the Brewery served alcohol to Wicks immediately before the fatal crash, taking their father’s life.
Wicks was released on a $1.1 million bond and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is due to appear in court on June 6.
