Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Motorcyclist dies in I-680 crash in Danville Sunday night

By Leave a Comment

By CHP – Contra Costa

This evening at approximately 8:11pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a collision involving a downed motorcyclist on northbound I-680 just north of El Cerro Blvd in Danville. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the male rider (unknown identity at this time) of a red 2004 Honda CBR motorcycle was unfortunately declared deceased at the scene.

Another vehicle that may have struck the rider after he was down on the roadway remained on scene and that party was fully cooperative throughout the investigation. Additional possible witnesses also remained on scene to aid in the investigation.

A sigalert was issued shortly after the collision shutting down all lanes of I-680 northbound but the center median and number one lane opened shortly thereafter to allow traffic to continue northbound while the investigation took place. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male rider of the motorcycle.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Vasco Road closed due to fatal three-vehicle accident from Livermore to Camino Diablo Road

By Leave a Comment

Vasco Road at Camino Diablo Road intersection is the scene of the accident. Photo by CCCPublic Worrks.

Expected to reopen at 10 p.m.

According to the CHP-Contra Costa and the Vasco Road is shut down entirely between Camino Diablo and Dalton Avenue in Livermore due to a three-vehicle fatality collision. A Sigalert has been issued and expected to reopen at about 5pm. Seek alternate routes to avoid the area. More details soon.

According to the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, “At 2:31 pm ECCFPD units responded to a report of a 3-vehicle accident involving a big rig on its side. Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that one patient has died in the accident.”

According to the Contra Costa County Public Works Department, they “anticipate the road to re-open by 10:00 p.m. Please take alternative routes to avoid this area.”

Motorists are urged to avoid the area and use Interstate 680 to get between eastern Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Multiple police agencies shut down “sideshows” in East County, Concord Sunday night

By Leave a Comment

Screenshot from CCC Sheriff helicopter STAR 3 video of sideshow at Vasco and Marsh Creek Roads, Sunday night, March 7, 2020. Photos courtesy of Antioch Police.

Enforcement results in numerous arrests, 60 citations issued and 55 vehicles towed

By Sgt. Rick Smith, Antioch Police Field Services – Patrol

Information was developed that a large scale “sideshow” event was planned to occur in Eastern Contra Costa County on March 7, 2020. These events have been frequently occurring in the Bay Area and if not addressed by law enforcement they become out of control. These events are extremely dangerous due to the reckless driving that often leads to violence or subjects being severely injured while disrupting the lives of non-involved motorists and residents.

The Antioch Police Department reached out to surrounding law enforcement agencies for assistance in addressing this planned “sideshow” due to the anticipated size of the event and the various locations in Eastern Contra Costa County identified as possible locations of occurrence. The request was answered with officers being sent from all east county agencies to include the Brentwood Police Department, Oakley Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, California Highway Patrol and Deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Air Operations also assisted by having Helicopter STAR 3 overhead in support.

A large “sideshow” event occurred with participants performing dangerous and reckless driving maneuvers in the intersection of Marsh Creek Road and Vasco Road. This is a heavily travelled area of roadway and participants used their vehicles to stop traffic in all directions while performing dangerous driving maneuvers. CCSO STAR 3 was overhead and was able to help responding units stop and arrest numerous participants.

Several of these participants did manage to escape arrest by driving at and around arriving officers on roadway shoulders and into oncoming lanes of traffic. Again, putting numerous citizens and officers in harm’s way. These participants went to other nearby areas and continued to take over intersections by performing dangerous and reckless driving maneuvers.

Thanks to CCSO STAR 3 overhead, several officers were able to break-up this second “Sideshow” event that was occurring along Vineyards Parkway in the City of Brentwood. Several participants were again stopped and arrested with their vehicles being towed.

Cars on Vineyard Parkway in Brentwood.

CCSO STAR 3 helped identify a third “sideshow” location on Balfour Road at American Avenue in the City of Brentwood. Arriving Officers located and arrested several more drivers with their vehicles again being towed.

Cars at Balfour Road and American Avenue in Brentwood.

This continued with a fourth “sideshow” taking place in the City of Antioch at the intersection of A Street and East 18th Street. Officers arrived as the participants were dispersing. Officers were able to identify the involved drivers and vehicles. More vehicles were stopped at various locations with the drivers being arrested and their vehicles being towed.

During these events, a motorcycle was involved and fled from officers when an enforcement stop was attempted. With the assistance of CCSO STAR 3, officers were able to follow the motorcycle safely and later located the rider. The rider was taken into custody with his motorcycle being subsequently towed and stored.

The remaining group of drivers then made their way into the City of Concord. The Concord Police Department was aware of what was occurring in the eastern end of the county. They were able to disperse the remaining participants from their city. After this last incident, it appears the participants stopped for the night and no other incidents were reported.

Nearly 60 citations were issued. 50 of the citations were for infield arrests for reckless driving offenses directly related to “sideshow” activity. This resulted in 55 vehicles being towed and stored. There were three other arrests as a result of this enforcement for charges of driving under the influence, felony evading, and a warrant arrest for robbery.

This type of reckless driving has become a regular occurrence in the Bay Area. It is an extreme danger to those involved and even more of a danger for the un-involved citizens who unfortunately become victims of the illegal activity. Due to the officers pro-actively addressing this issue, several of the involved drivers will now be without their vehicles for an extended period and will also be facing possible fines from the Courts. Officers in Contra Costa County will continue to address these incidents with zero tolerance.

As a reminder to those who choose to show off their driving skills, public roadways are not the proper venues for this type of behavior. There are sanctioned events and locations throughout the state that allow this type of driving. Often rewarding drivers for their skills while providing a safe environment to all.

This preliminary information is made available by the Community Policing Division. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Fatal big rig crash on I-680 in Alamo takes life of Oakland man Saturday morning

By Leave a Comment

By CHP – Contra Costa

This morning, Sat., March 7, 2020 at about 5:59 am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle collision involving a big rig at I-680 southbound, just south of Stone Valley Road. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the solo male driver of the big rig (64-year-old male from Oakland) had been ejected and was declared deceased at the scene. A prior non-injury collision was in the roadway just before the Freightliner big rig crashed. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the male driver.

It appears that the big rig driver was unable to avoid the collision that was just ahead of him. He veered his big rig to the left in an attempt to avoid the previous crash, towards the concrete center divider, but subsequently crashed into the concrete barrier. It appears that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt because he was ejected onto the roadway. Unfortunately, the driver did not survive and was declared deceased at the scene. No other drivers were injured.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Fatal crash in Hercules takes life of Fremont man Saturday

By Leave a Comment

By CHP – Contra Costa

Saturday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2020 at about 12:40pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision that came off of eastbound I-80 to the Hwy-4 split. (Into the dirt area just east of I-80 and south of Hwy-4) Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the solo male driver (44 year-old-male from Fremont) was unconscious. CPR and lifesaving procedures were attempted on the driver and he was quickly transported to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek. Unfortunately, he did not survive and died from his injuries. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the male driver.

It remains unclear at this point in our initial investigation as to why the man veered off the roadway but he was driving his 2000 Dodge Dakota truck on I-80 eastbound and approaching the Hwy-4 split and for an unknown reason he veered to the right across all lanes of traffic and off the roadway into the dirt field area, where the truck came to rest. The male driver was unresponsive upon CHP and emergency personal arrival. He died a short time later from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Juvenile reckless driver evades CHP on Hwy 4 at over 100 MPH, crashes then caught Monday evening

By Leave a Comment

Reckless juvenile driver on Hwy 4 ends with car crashing catching fire Monday, 2/17/20. Photo by CHP.

By CHP – Contra Costa

Monday evening, Feb. 17, 2020 at about 5:59 pm, a CHP unit observed a vehicle driving recklessly at over 100 MPH, in and out of traffic, on Hwy-4 westbound at Laurel Road. The CHP unit initiated a traffic enforcement stop but the vehicle (a 2019 silver Kia Rio) failed to yield to lights and sirens and accelerated away from the patrol officer.

The suspect vehicle led CHP on a pursuit on Hwy-4 westbound to approximately San Marco Blvd. where CHP discontinued the pursuit due to safety concerns for the other drivers on the road and CHP Officers involved due to the reckless manner of driving from the suspect. CHP lost sight of the Kia but as the CHP unit exited Hwy-4 at Willow Pass Road in Concord, the Officer saw that the Kia had crashed into an embankment just off of the off-ramp of Willow Pass Road and had caught fire. A CHP Officer immediately exited his patrol car and put out the blaze with an extinguisher and discovered the Kia was abandoned. Witnesses related to CHP that multiple parties exited the Kia after it crashed and fled the scene.

CHP towed the Kia and set up a perimeter to locate the suspects in and around the Willow Pass Road and Evora Road area. Shortly after the area was surrounded, all four occupants from the Kia were located and detained. All four occupants were male juveniles, including the driver. Thankfully there were no reported crashes or injuries to Officers, other drivers on the road, and only minor complaints of pain to the occupants of the Kia.

The male juvenile driver was arrested and will be booked into the Contra Costa County Juvenile detention center and the other occupants will remain in CHP custody until a parent or legal guardian arranges pickup for each juvenile.

Reckless driving over 100 mph on the highway that endangers all drivers’ safety will not be tolerated. These extremely poor choices from unsafe drivers are the exact drivers we are continually attempting to get off the road at all times. We are thankful nobody was seriously injured or killed due to this reckless driver and we hope that these young juveniles get some guidance, realize the error of their ways, and begin a path to better choices for their future when behind the wheel.

Man struck by car, killed on Highway 4 offramp in Pittsburg early Sunday morning

By Leave a Comment

By CHP – Contra Costa

Early this morning, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at approximately 1:16 am, CHP Contra Costa responded to a call of a vehicle versus a pedestrian on the Loveridge Road off-ramp from Hwy-4 eastbound in Pittsburg. Upon CHP & emergency personnel arrival, a 33-year-old male (unknown city of residence but possibly a transient or homeless individual) was located within the roadway and the responsible vehicle that collided with the pedestrian remained on scene.

Unfortunately, the male pedestrian was pronounced deceased on scene. The solo male driver of the 2013 Honda (36yrs old from Livermore) remained on scene and was cooperative throughout the investigation. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male pedestrian.

Our initial investigation of this incident revealed that the pedestrian was within the roadway of the Loveridge road off-ramp in the #2 lane while the Honda was exiting from Hwy-4. The driver of the Honda was unable to avoid the pedestrian in the roadway and collided with him, causing fatal injuries. The driver of the Honda was not injured and remained on scene. The driver of the Honda was not DUI or impaired. Impairment of the pedestrian due to alcohol or drugs is unknown, at this time.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone has information regarding this collision, the events leading up to it, or witnessed it, please call CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980. Thank you.

Sheriff’s Office seeks witnesses in Tuesday vehicle rollover ejection crash on Kirker Pass Road

By Leave a Comment

Emergency responders at the scene of the rollover crash on Kirker Pass Road, Tues., Feb. 11, 2020. Screenshots from Bay News Video by Art Ray.

Domestic violence related; suspect arrested

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at about 3:24 PM, the California Highway Patrol received a call of a rollover vehicle accident in the area of Kirker Pass Road and Hess Road near Concord.

During the initial CHP investigation, it was discovered that the cause of the accident was apparently domestic-related. The Office of the Sheriff responded to the location and started an investigation.

Deputy Sheriffs found the incident involved a woman and a man who were in a previous relationship. The woman was driving a tan colored 2004 Chevy Tahoe SUV with two passengers. The suspect, who was in a white colored 2015 Mercedes Benz, followed behind and later pulled in front of the victim’s car causing her to lose control and flip over an embankment.

The driver of the Chevy Tahoe, who was ejected from the vehicle according to ConFire personnel, was taken to a local hospital and is said to be in critical condition. According to the CHP many vehicles  pulled over and passersby turned the vehicle onto its side. One of the other occupants, a young girl,  was treated and released from the hospital. The last occupant of the SUV was uninjured.

The driver of the other vehicle was later arrested by Deputy Sheriffs. He is identified as 28-year-old Alejandro Arriaga of Concord. He was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one felony count of child cruelty. Arriaga is being held in lieu of $190,000 bail.

Anyone with any information on this case or who might have witnessed it is asked to contact detectives at (925) 313-2600. Tips could be emailed to: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Concord teen injured by hit-and-run driver on Highway 4 on-ramp in Concord Monday night

By Leave a Comment

CORRECTION: The original headline was incorrect as the incident occurred in Concord, not Bay Point.

By CHP – Contra Costa

Last night, at approximately 9:15pm, CHP Contra Costa responded to a call of a pedestrian down in the roadway at the Port Chicago Highway on-ramp to Hwy-4 eastbound. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, an 18-year-old male from Concord was located with major injuries and then transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. No vehicle or responsible party was located at the scene.

This incident is still under investigation and requires follow up investigation as well. The 18-year-old pedestrian transported to the hospital is listed as life-threatening critical condition. At this time CHP has located a party and vehicle of interest regarding this incident and is still gathering information.

That is all the information we to offer at this time as it requires follow up investigation. If anyone has information regarding this collision, the events leading up to it, or witnessed it, please call CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980. Thank you.

Motorcyclist killed by DUI driver in multi-vehicle collision on Highway 4 in Pittsburg Sunday morning

By Leave a Comment

Driver from Antioch taken to hospital, arrested; Driver of other car from Oakley sustains minor injuries

By CHP-Contra Costa

UPDATE: the Volkswagen sedan driven by Moss was determined that it was traveling wrong way (westbound within the eastbound lanes) of Hwy-4 prior to the initial collision with the Toyota.

Early this morning, at approximately 2:09 am, CHP Contra Costa responded to a collision involving three vehicles on Hwy-4 eastbound, just east of Bailey Road. Upon CHP & emergency personnel arrival, a 2002 Volkswagen sedan, a 2015 Toyota sedan, and a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle had been involved in a collision. Unfortunately, the solo male driver of the Harley (29 years old from Antioch) was killed in the crash. The solo male driver of the Toyota (20 years old from Oakley) sustained only minor complaint of pain injuries. And the solo male driver of the Volkswagen (59-year-old Tony Moss from Antioch) was transported to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek for his injuries and suspicion of DUI driving.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male rider from the Harley Davidson.

This incident is still under investigation and requires follow up investigation as well. But our preliminary report indicates the Volkswagen and Toyota may have been involved in a collision on eastbound Hwy 4 at Bailey Road and then the Harley Davidson became involved as well, subsequently ejecting the rider of the Harley Davidson and killing him. The driver of the Toyota suffered only minor injuries, remained on scene, and cooperated with the investigation.

While at the hospital, Officers placed Moss under arrest for felony DUI. Upon his release from the hospital early this morning, he was transported to the Martinez detention facility where he was booked into the county jail for two counts of FELONY DUI: 23153(a)VC & 23153(b)VC.

As this incident is still under investigation, if anyone has information regarding this collision or events leading up to it, call CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980. Thank you.