Oakland Calif., Police Department logo. seal (Oakland Police Department via Bay City News)
Ray Saint Germain/Ray Saint Germain via Bay City News
The 17-year-old driver who allegedly killed three people in East Oakland and sent three others to the hospital Saturday night has been charged with felony hit-and-run and three counts of felony vehicular manslaughter, according to police officials.
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Investigators are still waiting to obtain a search warrant to test the boy’s blood for drugs and alcohol, Oakland interim Police Chief James Beere said at a Monday afternoon news conference.
“It’s a ripple effect on our community, deeply impacting family, loved ones, residents and friends who live and work in the neighborhood,” Beere said. “But truly, throughout the whole entire city of Oakland, we’re mourning.”
Beere said the boy crashed into a group of pedestrians at the intersection of 85th Avenue and International Boulevard at about 11:15 p.m. Saturday.
Three people died at the scene and three others were taken to the hospital, where one remains in critical condition, one is currently in stable condition and one has since been released, he said.
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Two other pedestrians suffered minor injuries and the driver was treated for minor injures at the hospital prior to being arrested.
Before the crash, the boy was allegedly traveling north on 85th Avenue, a residential street, at speeds exceeding 50 mph.
He allegedly struck several vehicles and then tried to make a “delayed turn” onto International Boulevard, which caused his vehicle to end up on the sidewalk, where it collided with the pedestrians, Beere said.
The boy then allegedly tried to run from the scene but was chased and apprehended by witnesses.
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“I truly want to thank the members of the community that stepped up to assist OPD,” Beere said. “They helped detain the suspect and prevent him from fleeing, and I greatly appreciate your efforts.”
While it’s too early to say for certain, Beere said it appears the collision was unintentional and likely the result of reckless driving.
Beere also said the vehicle the suspect was driving wasn’t stolen, and investigators are trying to figure out who owns it and what their relationship is to the boy.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee offered condolences to the families of the victims who were killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. She also thanked the people who prevented the suspect from fleeing.
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“I have to say that the courage displayed by those on scene shows a growing trust between our neighborhoods, City Hall and the Oakland Police Department and we’re not operating in isolation, but working as true partners to protect our community,” Lee said.
In addition to the police investigation, the city’s Department of Violence Prevention is working to ensure that the crash doesn’t lead to additional violence or retaliatory attacks in the neighborhood.
DVP Chief Holly Joshi also said the department is working to assist victims.
“My team is made up of committed individuals from the community who act as credible messengers to ensure that one act of violence does not turn into many,” Joshi said.
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“Regarding this incident, I’ve deployed the violence interrupters to prevent retaliatory violence and make connections between the impacted individuals and support services,” she said.
This is the second time this month that someone crashed into a group of people gathered on an Oakland sidewalk.
On May 2, seven people were hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle that went onto the sidewalk near the Fox Theater in the Uptown neighborhood.
The victims in that case were in the 500 block of 18th Street at about 1:30 a.m. when they were hit by someone who had driven onto the sidewalk following reports of a nearby fight, according to police officials.
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All those victims were taken to the hospital, listed in stable condition and are expected to survive.
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The driver in that case fled the scene but Beere said investigators have identified a suspect and have a warrant for their arrest.
“We’re working with federal authorities as well as outside law enforcement agencies to take them into custody,” Beere said. “We have narrowed down their location so an arrest is imminent. I would advise them to turn themselves in.”
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