OAKLAND, CA (October 19, 2025) — Authorities identified 58-year-old Kevin Jellison of Roseville as the motorcyclist who died Sunday afternoon in a four-vehicle collision on eastbound Interstate 80 near Powell Street in Oakland. The crash drew a large emergency response and caused significant traffic delays through the East Bay corridor.
Accident Details: The collision occurred around 2:30 p.m. when a Honda motorcycle, a Toyota Prius, a Tesla Model S, and a Subaru Crosstrek were involved in a chain-reaction crash along the eastbound lanes of I-80, west of Powell Street. According to the California Highway Patrol, the rider, later identified as Jellison, was operating a Honda VT model motorcycle when the vehicles collided under unclear circumstances.
Paramedics and CHP officers arrived within minutes and found Jellison with critical injuries. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. None of the other drivers involved reported injuries. All motorists remained at the location and cooperated fully with investigators.
The collision prompted CHP to close three lanes near the center divider at approximately 2:52 p.m., with full lane access restored around 4:19 p.m. Traffic backed up for several miles during the investigation and cleanup.
Investigation: The California Highway Patrol’s Oakland office is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports indicate that impairment by drugs or alcohol does not appear to be involved. Officers are reviewing physical evidence, dashcam footage, and roadway conditions to determine how the sequence of impacts occurred.
Investigators are also analyzing the positions of the vehicles and statements from those involved to clarify whether lane changes, following distance, or abrupt braking may have contributed. CHP has asked anyone who witnessed the collision to contact their Oakland office.
Multi-vehicle freeway crashes can take weeks to reconstruct because of the number of drivers, the range of vehicle types, and the speed at which these collisions happen. Determining the cause requires careful attention to vehicle placement, skid marks, and traffic flow leading up to the point of impact.
Legal Considerations: Fatal freeway crashes involving motorcycles can leave families facing sudden financial and emotional burdens. When another driver’s conduct plays a role, state law provides a means for relatives to seek accountability for losses tied to funeral costs, medical expenses, and the loss of companionship.
Establishing how responsibility is assigned depends on what the investigation reveals. Police findings, crash reconstruction reports, and eyewitness accounts help identify whether a driver made an unsafe maneuver or failed to maintain proper distance. Those details determine how liability is distributed among the involved parties.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Kevin Jellison as they grieve his passing and remember his life.
Source: ABC7 News / KGO