SoCal sheriff’s deputy charged in 100-mph crash that killed groom-to-be, injured fiancée

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has filed criminal charges against a deputy accused of running a red light at 100 mph and colliding with another vehicle, killing a soon-to-be groom and severely injuring his fiancée. Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Glynn Wilburn, 42, was charged Wednesday with one count of gross vehicular manslaughter, felony reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and a bodily injury enhancement allegation, according to a news release from the district attorney's office. Riverside County Dist. Atty. Michael Hestrin said in a written statement that his office evaluates the facts and evidence of cases independently and applies the law equally to all individuals, regardless of their profession or employment status. "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," he said. The charges stem from a fatal collision in Beaumont that occurred on the morning of Sept. 6, 2025. Prosecutors say Wilburn was traveling about 100 mph on Cherry Valley Boulevard with lights and sirens activated, responding to a report of a shooting. "Wilburn entered an intersection and collided with a civilian vehicle at approximately 71 mph," the news release read. "The driver of the civilian vehicle was killed, and his fiancée, who was a passenger, suffered severe injuries." A lawsuit filed against Wilburn by the victims' families alleges that the deputy began to brake just before the impact but was still driving at 98 mph in the seconds before the car slowed to just over 70 mph. Relatives identified the victims as Gavin Hinkley, 21, and Madeline Fox, 20. They said the couple were running errands for their wedding, which was weeks away. Wilburn and the Riverside County Sheriff's Office are among defendants in the families' suit. At the time the suit was filed, Spencer Lucas, an attorney representing the families with the firm Panish Shea Ravipud, said that, although the deputy was responding to a call, law enforcement officers must operate with a reasonable level of safety and care. “There’s no excuse for a cowboy cop to be barreling down a two-lane road through a red light. ... He was driving so far in excess of what would be reasonable,” Lucas said in an interview with The Times. “This tragic crash was completely preventable.” In separate joint statements to The Times, the parents of the victims said the filing of criminal charges was an important step toward justice. "Gavin was more than a victim. He was our son, and he was a beloved brother, fiancé, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. He was kind, hardworking, and deeply loved by everyone who knew him. He had his entire life ahead of him — a future filled with dreams, plans, and a wedding to the woman he loved," Lauren and Cory Hinkley wrote. "While no criminal charge can bring Gavin back or undo the devastating impact this tragedy has had on Madeline and our families, today is a meaningful step toward justice." "Law enforcement officers are granted certain statutory privileges, those privileges exist only when exercised with due regard for the safety of others. No badge, title, or position should place anyone above accountability, especially when reckless actions result in such devastating consequences," wrote Melissa and Jason Fox. Prosecutors said that, before the crash, a law enforcement dispatcher had confirmed over the radio that deputies were already at the scene and that there were no reports of injuries and the suspect had left the area. The Riverside Sheriffs' Assn., a union that represents law enforcement officers from various agencies in the region, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.