Murder Charge Filed In Temecula I-15 Crash, Murrieta Teen Killed

TEMECULA, CA — A truck driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs and causing a fiery crash last week that killed a young Murrieta man on Interstate 15 in Temecula has been charged with murder.

Kevin Wayne May, 47, of Fontana was charged Thursday with murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He was being held at Southwest Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail and is due to be arraigned Friday afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center, according to court records.

The California Highway Patrol, which was investigating the April 22 crash, forwarded the case to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office on Wednesday.

The crash victim has not been positively identified by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau, but a GoFundMe page established in his honor by a family member said Garret Gabriel Caouette, 18, died in the wreckage.

According to the page, a scholarship fund has been established in the young man's name. As of Thursday afternoon, the site had raised nearly $20,000.

"Garret had just turned 18 on April 2nd and was accepted into Cal State Channel Islands to pursue a degree in Ecology with a focus in marine biology. He enjoyed nature and adventure through his many experiences in hiking the national parks, zip lining, river rafting, and had just started the process to become scuba-certified," the page reads.

The young man's other passions included family, friends, athletics and his involvement with church, according to the page.

"He was the teammate … He was the classmate … He was the friend … He was a brother ... He was a good son ... This fundraiser is being created in remembrance of him and all that he loved. It is intended to begin a scholarship fund for kids who demonstrate the same amazing qualities as Garret," according to the GoFundMe page from Joshua Caouette.

According to a Facebook post by his mother, a memorial for her son will be held May 1 at Cornerstone Community Church in Wildomar. In lieu of flowers, the community is asked to donate to the Garret Gabriel Caouette Memorial Scholarship.

Details about the deadly April 22 crash were provided by California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lassig. He reported that May was driving a Hino bobtail box truck in the slow lane at an unknown speed on southbound Interstate 15, near the Overland Drive overcrossing, around 12:30 p.m. when he failed to see stopped traffic ahead and slammed into a Toyota Prius.

The two vehicles burst into flames as the Prius, piloted by Caouette, was pinned between the Hino and a big rig that had also stopped for traffic.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department along with Murrieta Fire & Rescue crews quickly doused the flames and found the Prius driver dead in the burnt wreckage, Lassig said.

May, who was hauling furniture at the time of the crash, was hospitalized with moderate injuries at Wildomar's Inland Valley Medical Center, and was subsequently arrested.

A 47-year-old Bloomington woman driving the big rig was uninjured.

There were no passengers in any of the vehicles.

The fiery crash prompted a SigAlert that lasted all afternoon and into the night. It also caused traffic jams across Temecula and Murrieta side streets as motorists attempted to avoid the freeway shutdown.

Lassig reminded motorists about the dangers of driving impaired.

"Whether it's alcohol, marijuana, hard drugs or prescription medication, any of these substances can have fatal results when operating a motor vehicle," he said. "Please drive responsibly."

—GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.