Update, May 21, 3 p.m. Police determined that the primary collision factor in this crash was a right-of-way violation by the Volvo driver, who failed to yield to the pedestrian in the crosswalk.
Update, April 16, 5:45 p.m. Police released additional information about the crash in a Nixle alert at 5:35 p.m.
According to police, there was a report of an injury collision at Telegraph and Ashby avenues at 3:18 p.m. that possibly involved a semi-truck and pedestrian.
According to the preliminary investigation, a driver in a Volvo station wagon heading north on Telegraph was turning right onto Ashby when he struck a female pedestrian.
“While making his turn … the driver may have hit the accelerator and not the brake, causing the vehicle to go into the intersection as a panel truck was traveling east on Ashby. The Volvo then hit the side of the truck as it passed,” police wrote.
The pedestrian was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Volvo sustained minor injuries and also was taken to the hospital.
Police said the other driver, of the panel truck, was not injured.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call the Berkeley Police Department Traffic Bureau at 510-981-5980 (case #15-22182).
Original story: Police advised motorists to avoid the intersection of Ashby and Telegraph avenues in South Berkeley after a crash there just before 3:20 p.m.
Police are investigating the incident, and closed off the intersection in its immediate aftermath. Traffic was significantly impacted.
As of 4:07 p.m., police said the intersection had been re-opened, and that officers were conducting traffic control in the area.
At least two people were taken to Highland Hospital after the crash, which was reported over the scanner as involving a big rig and a pedestrian. (Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said she could not immediately provide information on the incident, except to confirm the closure of the intersection.)
At least one vehicle, a Volvo, needed to be towed from the area, according to information broadcast over the scanner.
According to one witness, Erinn Nahid, a “big rig clipped Volvo hard. Volvo hit pedestrian who hit windshield. Looked bad for pedestrian.”
Nahid said the Volvo had stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the road. The big rig “just barreled through.” That caused the Volvo to hit the pedestrian, who appeared to be a teenager walking north in the crosswalk on Ashby from the southeast corner of the intersection, she said.
Nahid said many people rushed to help the pedestrian, who was thrown into the windshield, then ended up on the ground, shaking, in a pile of glass.
Berkeleyside will update this post as more information becomes available.
This story was updated as the situation developed. Read more about traffic accidents and pedestrian safety in Berkeley.
Related:
CHP seeks driver who fled after Berkeley crash injures 5 (03.20.15)
Caldecott Tunnel bore re-opens after car collision, fire (03.16.15)
Big rig spill in Berkeley closes westbound lane of I-80 (03.10.15)
After Corvette crash in Berkeley, man headed to trial (03.06.15)
Pedestrian taken to Highland after crash (02.26.15)
Update: Pedestrian hit by van in West Berkeley (02.25.15)
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