The California Highway Patrol is looking for a driver who caused a crash on the freeway in Berkeley earlier this week that overturned his vehicle and sent three children and two adults to the hospital.
According to Deputy Berkeley Fire Chief Avery Webb, three vehicles were significantly damaged in the four-car collision. Westbound Interstate 80 was shut down for 10-15 minutes during the initial emergency response.
The crash took place Wednesday at 1:20 p.m., said Oakland CHP spokesman Officer Sean Wilkenfeld. A caller reported a collision on westbound Interstate 80 at University Avenue in Berkeley.
Wilkenfeld said the suspect’s 2015 Jeep Patriot, a rental car, rear ended a 1996 Honda Accord driven by a 32-year-old Oakland woman, causing the Jeep to overturn. There were three children — ages 2, 4 and 11 — in the Honda. They were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The Honda’s driver also was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.
The driver of the Jeep fled on foot eastbound on the highway.
Two other vehicles — a 2009 Acura MDX driven by a 32-year-old Hercules woman, and a 2002 Toyota Camry driven by a 71-year-old woman from Oakland — also were damaged in the crash, said Wilkenfeld, but no other injuries were reported.
The passenger in the Jeep was taken to Highland Hospital with minor injuries. Wilkenfeld said that person is cooperating with the CHP’s investigation.
“We are currently working active leads and are looking for witnesses, especially those who witnessed the man running from the scene,” Wilkenfeld said by email.
Callers with information to share can dial the Oakland California Highway Patrol office at 510-450-3821.
Correction: It was the Jeep, not the Honda, that overturned during the crash. The story has been updated to reflect this.
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