Community honors UPS driver killed in Santee plane crash

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Four years after UPS driver Steve Krueger was tragically killed in a plane crash in Santee, his friends and family have dedicated a memorial in Ocean Beach to honor his life.

The memorial, located near Robb Field Skatepark, was officially dedicated Saturday after several years of planning and fundraising efforts by Krueger's loved ones.

"He really will never be forgotten," said Jeffrey Krueger, Steve's brother, during the dedication ceremony.

"Steve loved the water and so it was important for us for him to get a scenic view if you will," said Wendy Adelstein, a friend of Krueger. "He was an avid water skier. He was always out on the river.”

Krueger was killed at the age of 61 when a small plane crashed into his UPS truck during deliveries in Santee on Oct. 11, 2021.

The crash also destroyed two homes, including that of Maria Morris and her husband Phil, who suffered severe injuries when their home caught fire.

It took the Morris family two and a half years to move back into their rebuilt home, and they are now living a normal life despite the invisible scars left by the accident.

"It was sad that we lost it, but our life is back. We are not done," Maria told FOX 5/KUSI.

Krueger's memorial features a plaque, flowers and a bench where visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in the scenic view.

Money raised through a GoFundMe campaign helped family and friends pay for the memorial, and the City of San Diego approved the project.

Though Krueger's death was tragic, the memorial serves as a testament to his vibrant life and the love his community continues to hold for him.

FOX 5's Jennifer Franco contributed to this report.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published.