Driver accused of fatally striking La Mesa police officer arrested on suspicion of DUI

The 38-year-old man accused of driving the sedan that fatally struck La Mesa police Officer Lauren Craven on Interstate 8 earlier this week has been arrested on suspicion of being under the influence at the time of the crash, California Highway Patrol investigators said Thursday evening.

The alleged driver, identified as Antonio Alcantar, a La Mesa resident, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital, the CHP said. He was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Earlier Thursday, a somber procession escorted Craven’s remains from the county Medical Examiner’s Office in Kearny Mesa to their final resting place at El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley around 10 a.m. La Mesa police were joined by law enforcement officers and first responders from around the county.

Craven, a Bend, Ore., native who had just turned 25, was killed shortly after she came upon a crash on I-8 near Waring Road around 10:20 p.m. Monday night, the county Medical Examiner’s Office said. A Mazda sedan had struck a Honda sedan and then hit a concrete barrier, county officials said.

The police officer quickly pulled up to the scene, exited her police vehicle and went to help the drivers in the cars, officials said. As she stood outside her vehicle, she was fatally struck by a Toyota Camry, driven by the suspect, California Highway Patrol investigators said.

The series of chain reaction events eventually grew to involve at least five vehicles with multiple injuries to other motorists, CHP officials said.

Craven, who joined the department in February 2024 and was assigned to its patrol unit, died at the scene, as did 19-year-old De’Veonte Morris, the Mazda’s driver.

CHP officials said a handful of other motorists in other vehicles suffered minor to moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital. The exact number of people injured, as well as further details about either collision, were not immediately available.

To honor the fallen officer, Gov. Gavin Newsom had previously ordered Tuesday that flags at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space be flown at half-staff.

David Craven, Lauren’s father, said that his daughter wanted to dedicate her life to being “that good cop” for anybody who needed her.

“Every day, we would talk on her way home from work, which was 6 in the morning, or on the way to work,” he said. “She loved it. She loved getting up to go to work. She was excited to get out there and serve.”

The La Mesa Police Officers’ Association has rolled out an online fundraiser where 100% of the donations will be given to their fallen colleague’s loved ones.

With a stated goal of $75,000, the fundraiser has received around $25,000 in crowd-sourced donations as of Thursday afternoon.

Additionally, the owners of La Mesa restaurant Casa Gabriela announced they would be hosting a fundraiser to support the Craven family next month. Restaurant owner David Cohn said that from 3:30 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 5, all proceeds from the restaurant will be given to Craven’s family.

The owner said Craven’s death hit close to home for the restaurant and its staff. A member of his team is married to a La Mesa police officer who also served as Craven’s training officer when she first arrived at the department.

“She was a hero who gave her life while doing something heroic; what could be more selfless than what she did?” Cohn said Thursday. “It’s our hope that people will feel as strongly as we do about supporting her family based on her sacrifice.”

For more information on how to donate, visit porac.org/fundraiser/officer-craven. Checks can also be made out to the “La Mesa Police Officers’ Association” and mailed with the memo line “Officer Craven” to PO Box 812, La Mesa, CA 91944.

A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched for the family of the other driver who was killed.

Morris’ mother described her late son on the webpage as “a little piece of heaven on earth.”

“He had a special way, reaching your heart with love and laughter. He touched so many people. He was very respectful, helpful, loving and funny,” she wrote. He wanted to run his own business someday, she said.

City News Service contributed to this report.