Satellite Beach man arrested for DUI manslaughter in Front Street Park double-fatal crash
Ten months after an out-of-control pickup truck veered onto a sidewalk and fatally struck two young women at Claude Edge Front Street Park in Melbourne, a Satellite Beach man is behind bars facing charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
Robert Lueck, 30, was arrested Thursday in Satellite Beach. He remains incarcerated without bond at the Brevard County Jail Complex, Melbourne police said in a Friday morning press release.
Palm Bay friends Rikki Grace, 25, and Megan Grace, 26, were killed in the crash while they were out for an evening walk on Oct. 18, 2022. Both were Palm Bay residents and Bayside High graduates. They were not related.
Lueck's blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit after the double-fatal crash, and cannabis was also present in his blood, the press release said.
"Officers also determined that the driver operated his vehicle recklessly and with a suspended driver's license, resulting in the death of the two pedestrians involved in the crash. He also carried no insurance on the vehicle being driven in the crash," the press release said.
Investigators have charged Lueck with two counts of DUI manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide, driving with a suspended license resulting in death, DUI resulting in property damage or personal injury, DUI and failure to maintain financial responsibility.
More: Women killed by truck at Front Street Park honored during memorial bench ceremony
Lueck made his initial court appearance from jail Friday afternoon. A judge set his bond at $752,500, and the Public Defender's Office was appointed to defend Lueck. He will be arraigned Sept. 14 at the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Justice Center in Viera.
In May, a crowd of mourners dedicated a pair of memorial park benches honoring Rikki Grace and Megan Grace at the Front Street crash site, beneath two oak trees between New Haven and Melbourne avenues. Flower bouquets, photos and other tributes still decorate the bases of both trees.
Rikki Grace was a third-grade teacher at Imagine Schools in West Melbourne who volunteered with H.A.L.O. No-Kill Rescue Shelter and Girls on the Run.
Megan Grace worked at the Hale Hand Center, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Treasure Coast and Vero Orthopaedics.
More: Friends, family raise funds for women killed in Melbourne crash as investigation continues
"Investigations like these are very complex. So there's a lot that goes into them. They have to make sure that they get all their pieces in place before they make the arrest. Because once the arrest is made, the clock is ticking, as far as prosecution goes," Melbourne Police Sgt. Ben Slover said Friday morning.
"So it's important that they do the steps necessary before the arrest and get all the evidence to the state attorney," Slover said.
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Satellite Beach man charged in crash that killed two Palm Bay women
