A Riverside County deputy charged with gross vehicular manslaughter was driving at speeds of approximately 100mph through a red light when he struck a car carrying a couple running wedding errands, killing the groom and catastrophically injuring the bride-to-be, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Glynn Wilburn, 42, was formally charged on 17 June 2026, nine months after the collision, with one count of gross vehicular manslaughter, felony reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and a bodily injury enhancement allegation. No arraignment date has been set.
What Happened on Cherry Valley Boulevard
The collision occurred on the morning of 6 September 2025 in Beaumont, California. According to the DA’s press release, Wilburn was responding with lights and sirens active, travelling from Beaumont towards Calimesa following reports of shots fired. He was driving a Ford Explorer patrol vehicle when he entered the intersection at Cherry Valley Boulevard and struck the civilian car.
Gavin Hinkley, 21, a resident of Calimesa, died at the scene. His fiancée, Madeline Fox, 20, of Cherry Valley, sustained what a civil lawsuit filed by their families describes as ‘catastrophic’ injuries. The pair were running errands ahead of a wedding that was one month away.
Crash data from a California Highway Patrol report indicates Wilburn likely recognised the couple’s Tesla as a hazard and braked to 71 mph before impact. He was still travelling at approximately 98 mph just seconds before the collision. Wilburn himself suffered only minor injuries.
The Call Had Already Been Resolved Before the Riverside County Deputy Charged Towards the Scene
The DA’s office says that before the crash, police dispatch had confirmed to Wilburn that there were no reported injuries, the suspect vehicle had left the scene, and other deputies had already arrived at the location. He continued at speed regardless.
Spencer Lucas, the attorney representing the Hinkley and Fox families, told the Los Angeles Times: ‘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. This tragic crash was completely preventable.’
The families of Hinkley and Fox have also pursued civil proceedings. A statement from the law firm Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP, which represents the families, confirmed that investigators from the California Highway Patrol and the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) were involved in the investigation.
Families Demand Accountability
The parents of Madeline Fox issued a statement through counsel: ‘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.’
A GoFundMe established for the couple states: ‘Madeline and Gavin’s love story was altered forever when a Riverside County sheriff, going at a reckless speed, hit them leaving Madeline in critical condition and taking the life of Gavin just one month before their wedding. This date has forever changed the lives of many.’
The Press Enterprise and CNN both reported on the charges, with the DA’s announcement following the criminal filing by two days. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has not issued a public statement regarding the prosecution of one of its deputies.
Under California law, gross vehicular manslaughter while unlawful is a felony carrying a custodial sentence. Subject to any preliminary hearings and any future arraignment, the charges against Wilburn will proceed through the Riverside County court system. The civil lawsuit brought by the Hinkley and Fox families remains a separate matter running in parallel.
