Families, colleagues grieve for two killed in I-8 wreck
La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven Photo courtesy of La Mesa Police Department The La Mesa Police Officers Association have almost reached half their goal Thursday in a fundraising campaign for -year-old Lauren Craven a La Mesa police officer who was killed in the line of duty while assisting a motorist at the scene of a crash on Interstate The motorist was also killed The deceased motorist was identified as -year-old De Veonte Morris He was just my rock I don t even know how I can even live or think or eat or drink or sleep without him He was heaven on earth Morris s mother Annesha Meekie mentioned about her late son Meekie added that her son was a beautiful soul who was responsible and respectful and that Morris father Tyree died on the same day three years ago There is no word at this time about a benefit event for Morris s family Representatives have not yet published information regarding the person whose van struck Craven and Morris Officer Craven a Bend Oregon native who turned on Oct was aiding a driver whose car had overturned on the eastbound side of the freeway at Fairmount Avenue in San Diego when another van struck them shortly before p m Monday according to the La Mesa Police Department David Craven Lauren s father revealed his daughter demanded 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 six in the morning or on the way to work he mentioned She loved it She loved getting up to go to work She was excited to get out there and serve Craven who joined LMPD in February and was assigned to its patrol unit died at the scene as did the driver involved in the initial crash On behalf of the entire La Mesa Police Department I want to offer my deepest condolences to Lauren s family and friends LMPD Chief Ray Sweeney during a news conference Tuesday afternoon We grieve with you and we will stand with you in the days and years to come Sweeney described Craven a Loyola Marymount University graduate as a light Her positivity was immediate and genuine he revealed Whether helping a colleague answering a stranger s question or stepping up into a arduous episode that she was working she led with compassion courage and professionalism In an effort to promotion the family of Officer Lauren Craven the La Mesa Police Officers Association has launched an official Fund a Hero campaign the police association announced in a message All proceeds will go directly to her family The association s goal is to raise for Craven s family and as of early Thursday morning contributions to the benefit event had reached City News Function contributed to this record
