Oakland, CA (May 28, 2025) – A police pursuit of a stolen vehicle ended in tragedy Wednesday night when a pedestrian was struck and killed in Oakland. Two others, including another pedestrian and a woman driving a minivan, were also injured during the sequence of events, according to law enforcement.
Accident Details: The incident began around 7:45 p.m. when California Highway Patrol attempted to stop a stolen Infiniti G35 in the area of East 21st Street and Park Boulevard. As the suspect fled, CHP officers briefly pursued the vehicle before disengaging. A CHP airplane continued to track the suspect overhead.
The suspect then collided with a Toyota Sienna minivan, where two women were inside. After that initial crash, the suspect continued to drive recklessly and eventually lost control at East 21st Street and 12th Avenue.
The Infiniti hit a parked car, a tree, and a fire hydrant, then struck two pedestrians—a man and a woman—on the sidewalk. The man, believed to be in his 40s, died at the scene. The woman was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. The crash caused a geyser of water to shoot into the air as the hydrant was torn from the ground.
The woman in the minivan suffered injuries to her neck and leg, while her passenger declined medical attention. Her husband, William Duarte, expressed frustration over the chase, saying it placed innocent people at risk.
Legal Considerations: Victims of police pursuit crashes may have grounds to pursue claims against multiple parties, including the fleeing driver and potentially law enforcement agencies, depending on pursuit policies and timing. The pedestrian’s family may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Meanwhile, injured survivors could seek compensation for medical bills, pain, and trauma. Investigators will review pursuit procedures, as well as the timing of the CHP’s disengagement.
Ongoing Investigation: The California Highway Patrol and Oakland Police Department are continuing their investigation. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased pedestrian or the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody after fleeing the vehicle on foot.
Source: MSN.com