Traffic & Transit
Wrong-Way Driver Blamed For Deadly Crash That Caused Gridlock
I-580 was at a standstill for hours during Tuesday's morning commute. Police say the driver was running from police following a theft.
OAKLAND, CA — A ghastly 3-vehicle crash killed one person, seriously injured two others, and triggered gridlock that lasted for hours during Tuesday's morning commute.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash was caused by a wrong-way driver that was fleeing police following a robbery at an El Cerrito business.
El Cerrito Police Chief Paul Keith said two suspects in a white pickup truck smashed into the front of a Tobacco Outlet store located in the 10100 block of San Pablo Avenue to burglarize the business. They are identified Patrick Scheckells, 34, of Oakland and Andre Alberty, 56, of San Francisco.
They caused extensive damage to the store and stole merchandise, said Keith. The store was closed and unoccupied at the time of the crime.
El Cerrito police officers were called to the store at 4:22 a.m. and pursued the vehicle onto westbound I-80.
Officers ended the pursuit when the driver entered I-580 going in the wrong direction.
Shortly after, at 4:40, the truck crashed into a white van and a dark grey Lexus. The Lexus driver was killed. The victim's name has not been released. There is no information about injuries to the van driver.
The crash happened on the transition from I-580 to westbound I-80 in the MacArthur Maze. A sig-alert was issued to warn drivers to take an alternate route, if possible. Traffic backed up for miles. All lanes finally reopened at 8 a.m.
Even a tow truck driver trying to reach the crash reported being stuck in gridlock with traffic at a standstill.
Bay City News contributed to this story.
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