Contra Costa Herald

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

One driver dies in 4 vehicle fatal crash on Byron Highway

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South of Clifton Court Road

By CHP – Contra Costa

On December 30, 2023, at approximately 6:25 PM a white Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound on Byron Highway south of Clifton Court Road at an unknown speed. The white Chevrolet went into oncoming traffic. A grey Kia sedan traveling southbound on Byron Highway at an unknown speed was struck head on by the Chevrolet. After the crash the Kia left the roadway onto the right shoulder area and came to a rest. The Chevrolet continued out of control and eventually came to rest facing northbound over the center lane line blocking both lanes.

The driver of the Chevrolet was airlifted to John Muir Walnut Creek for their injuries. The passenger was transported via Ambulance to John Muir Walnut Creek for their injuries. The solo Kia driver was pronounced deceased on scene.

A Hyundai Elantra traveling southbound on Byron Highway behind the Kia struck debris in the road causing minor damage with no injuries to the driver or passenger. A Hummer traveling northbound behind the Chevrolet also struck debris and possibly struck the Chevrolet after the initial crash causing minor damage to the Hummer with no injuries to the driver or minor passenger.

During the on-scene investigation, it was determined the driver of the Kia was not properly wearing their seatbelt. DUI was not a factor in this collision.

This crash is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact CHP Contra Costa in Martinez, (925) 646-4980 or email your contact information to 320Investigations@chp.ca.gov to be contacted by the investigating officer.

 

Brentwood man arrested for car burglary

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Inside the vehicle broken into by the suspect. Photo: Brentwood PD

While on probation for burglary and auto theft

By Brentwood Police Department

On Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2023, Brentwood Officers were called to the 7600 block of Brentwood Blvd., for a car burglary in progress. The reporting party, who was the owner of the car, witnessed someone breaking into his car and he was able to provide a description of the suspect to Dispatch.

When officers arrived, they located and detained 37-year-old Agustin Martinez of Brentwood in the immediate area.  Officers determined the car showed signs of being tampered with and the victim identified Martinez as the suspect he saw breaking into his car.

Martinez, who is also on County Probation for burglary and vehicle theft, was placed under arrest and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.

Soul Box Project exhibit at Antioch Library in January

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Soul Boxes on display at the Multnomah Arts Center in Portland, OR. Photo credit: The Soul Box Project

Nationwide, community art project, to raise awareness of gunfire, remember victims

Public invited to participate Jan. 12

By Lisa Dell’Anno

The Contra Costa Library system is showcasing the Soul Box Project, a nationwide, community art project, to raise awareness about the scale of gunfire in the U.S. The project displays thousands of Soul Boxes in public spaces to illustrate the number of victims of gun violence, defense, accidents and suicides.

Every day, Americans must confront the impact of gun violence in their communities. The statistics are mind-numbing: gunfire in 2022 alone killed over 44,000 people in the U.S.  In an average year, 3,253 people die and 7,293 are wounded by guns in California.  (state’s statistics: EveryStat.org)

Soul Boxes can bring solace to individuals and encourage sharing and healing within our community.  A box-making gathering is scheduled to honor Martin Luther King, and to make boxes to honor lives lost to gunfire in Antioch and elsewhere. Anybody can make a Soul Box and have it included in the display.

The Antioch Library showcase installation will include over 1,000 origami Soul Boxes, hand-folded and personalized. Each 3-inch-by-3-inch Soul Box holds space for a gunfire victim with a name, an image or a message of protest or hope.  Admission is free and open to the public.

WHEN: Showcase exhibit can be seen during Library open hours during the month of January.

MLK box-making gathering will be Sunday, January 14, 2:00 – 4:00 in the Library Community Room.

Visitors can fold a Soul Box and add it to the exhibit.

To make a Soul Box: download folding instructions and watch an instructional video.

WHERE: Antioch Library, 501 W. 18th Street, Antioch

Artist and Soul Box Project founder, Leslie Lee, surveys Washington, D.C., installation of This Loss We Carry, October 2021. Photo Credit: Lancer Photography. All rights reserved.

Artist Leslie Lee, from Portland, Oregon, created the Soul Box Project after the mass shooting in Las Vegas in October 2017. It became a nationwide community art project designed to reveal the growing number of gunfire victims. The Project displays thousands of Soul Boxes in public spaces, illustrating the staggering number of victims of gunfire violence, defense, accidents and suicides. By raising awareness of the number of victims, the Project aims to empower people to choose actions regarding responsible gun use that reflect their values, priorities and beliefs. These actions may span a wide range – gun safety, education, legislation, mental health. Together those actions will help cause a shift in our nation’s culture.

The Project displayed 200,000 Soul Boxes on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 2021. The exhibit, titled This Loss We Carry, vividly illustrated the staggering number of U.S. victims of gunfire violence, defense, accidents, and suicides in less than 3 years.

Portions of the D.C. exhibit are now being distributed – by request and free of charge – to any individual, group or organization who can use this dramatic visual to bolster their work to end gun violence. View a video clip about the Soul Box Project.

For more information visit SoulBoxProject.org.

Dell’Anno is a former leader of the Diablo Valley chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and now volunteers with The Soul Box Project.

Suspect(s) sought in Oakley business Christmas package burglaries

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Suspect’s truck used in Oakley UPS Store package burglaries on Dec. 25 and 26, 2023. Surveillance video screenshot source: Oakley PD

By Oakley Police Department

Surveillance video screenshot source: Oakley PD

Oakley Police Department seeks information on vehicle and person(s) Involved in back-to-back Christmas time UPS Store package burglaries

On Monday, December 25, 2023, at 3:45AM, a solo suspect arrived at the UPS store, located at 2063 Main Street, Oakley. The suspect arrived in a white lifted Ford Super Duty truck with a “super cab” (extended cab) body. The Ford truck additionally had aftermarket black wheels and the license plates had been removed. The suspect was wearing a bright orange shirt or vest, dark colored pants, gloves and a mask. The suspect was seen on surveillance footage going straight to the front door of the business and breaking into it. The suspect stole several packages from behind the counter area and left with them.

On Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at 4:05AM, a suspect wearing gloves and all dark clothing arrived to the UPS store and entered via the compromised front door. The suspect took additional packages from behind the counter and a small safe.

We are awaiting surveillance footage from the interior of the store and parking lot footage from the 26th, but we are able to share a couple of pictures of the truck that was used on the 25th. On that night, the truck left the UPS store by travelling westbound on Main Street and then turning northbound onto Bridgehead Road. We do not know where the truck went from that point, but we are seeking the assistance of the public to help us locate the truck and any information about the stolen packages and suspect. If additional surveillance photos are developed in this case, we will be sure to share them.

Please call us at (925) 625-8060 if you have any information regarding this case.

If you suspect your package has been stolen, please contact the UPS store manager at (925) 625-0221. You will receive information about your package and additional information on what to do about it.

Respite stays offered at TreVista Senior Living & Memory Care in Antioch

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Is your loved one or patient on the path to recovery from an injury or illness, yet facing challenges in safely returning home after being discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility? TreVista is here to provide the support and care needed during this crucial healing phase.

🏡 Safe Haven for Recovery: TreVista offers a safe and secure environment, allowing your loved one or patient to focus on recovery without the worries of returning home prematurely. Our furnished guest rooms and comforting common spaces create a supportive atmosphere.

👩‍⚕️ Expert Care Around the Clock: Rest assured, our dedicated care staff, supervised by experienced nurses, is available 24/7 to provide the highest level of support. Your loved one’s or patient’s well-being is our top priority.

💪 Accelerate Recovery with Physical Therapy: TreVista is committed to facilitating your loved one’s or patient’s recovery journey. Take advantage of our supportive services while your focus remains on essential physical therapy, ensuring a stronger and safer return home.

🍽️ Nourishment for Healing: Delight in our delicious home-cooked meals, thoughtfully prepared to provide the nutrition needed for a speedy recovery. A healthy diet is integral to the healing process.

🌈 Tailored Services for Holistic Care: Our respite program offers additional services, including medication management and personal assistance, to address individual needs. We tailor our support to enhance the overall well-being of our residents.

📅 Flexible Admission for Your Convenience: TreVista understands the urgency of recovery. Our flexible admission process allows for a seamless transition, even on weekends. Your journey to healing starts when you need it.

🎁 Special Offer: Stay for 3 Weeks, Get The 4th Week Free! 🎁*

TreVista’s Respite Program is more than just a temporary stay; it’s a transformative experience leading to a stronger, safer return home. Contact us today to embark on this journey of recovery, where care and support redefine the path to wellness.

For details contact Tamsen Meierdierck, Senior Living Consultant – TreVista Antioch at (925) 470-3395.

TreVista Senior Living & Memory Care is located at 3950 Lone Tree Way in Antioch. To learn more visit trevistaseniorliving.com/trevista-at-antioch.

*Terms and conditions apply. Offer subject to availability.

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Brentwood Police holding DUI checkpoint Friday, Dec. 29

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Source: Brentwood PD

The Brentwood Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint on Friday, December 29th from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Balfour Road.

Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The Brentwood Police Department is committed to keeping the traveling public safe.

Brentwood PD reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or ”operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Why do police announce checkpoints?

You’d think that a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint would work best if it had an element of surprise behind it. After all, if someone is driving under the influence and they come across a checkpoint they didn’t know about, they would have a much higher chance of being caught.

So in short here’s the answer as to why police agencies notify the public in advance of DUI/driver’s license checkpoints….it’s the law. The state Supreme Court has ruled that DUI/driver’s license checkpoints are legal but they mandated checkpoints be publicized ahead of time.

Once you are at a checkpoint, vehicle code section 2814.2(a) requires that all drivers stop and submit to these checkpoints.

The goal of these checkpoints is public safety and deterring drivers from driving under the influence. Hopefully that clarifies some questions we’ve had in the past.

 

Oakley man and his dog die in car after striking tree in Antioch

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By Lt. Rick Martin, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

On December 26, 2023, at approximately 2:45 a.m. Antioch Police Officers responded to Wilbur Avenue near the intersection of Apollo Court on a report of a vehicle on fire after having collided into a tree. Officers along with the Contra Costa County Fire Department arrived and were able to extinguish the fire, unfortunately the driver, a 28-year-old male from Oakley and his dog succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene.

We are withholding the name of the decedent until proper family notifications have been made. It appears speed and alcohol were factors in this incident. No further information will be provided at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lieutenant Rick Martin at (925) 779-6972 or the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441.

Opinion: CCTA experiment with “low cost” transit option could prove costly

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Glydways podcars and station rendering. Source: Glydways

By Marc Joffe

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) has announced plans to install a new type of transit system in a suburban area 45 miles northeast of San Francisco. The system, created by transportation startup Glydways, offers some compelling efficiencies, but its application in a relatively low‐​density area does not appear to be cost‐​effective. As such, CCTA’s plan merits a hard look from both local and federal taxpayers who will be obliged to fund it.

Glydways’ system uses small driverless vehicles (with a capacity of up to four passengers) on a narrow, dedicated guideway. Because the vehicles use rubber tires, there is no need to install rail tracks. Vehicles are available on demand, typically within two to five minutes of being summoned on the Glydways app.

The Glydways solution addresses several criticisms of traditional rail transit projects, which involve large (often empty) vehicles operating on fixed schedules piloted by operators entitled to generous pension benefits. Projects of this type, including New York’s Second Avenue Subway and BART’s Silicon Valley extension, not only cost billions to build but they are also expensive to operate.

As such, Glydways offers much needed innovation in public transportation, perhaps because it is looking at the challenge from a startup lens. Formed in 2019, the company has raised over $70 million from a group of investors that includes Bill Gates and Vinod Khosla. Their solution is an interesting attempt to apply ideas pioneered by Uber and Waymo to the requirements of public transit.

But innovation alone is no assurance that government will use taxpayer money effectively. Incentives also have a role to play. When companies simply sell products and services to a public agency, they do not have a strong motive to economize. Indeed, they often benefit from cost overruns.

But the CCTA project promises to resolve this incentive problem by using the public‐​private‐​partnership (or P3) model. The P3 charged with delivering the East Contra Costa County Dynamic Personal Micro Transit (DPMT) project includes Glydways and four other companies, along with CCTA and the local public sector bus operator.

Under a P3, companies are supposed to take some ownership of the project. If a P3 truly transfers risk to the corporate partners, their interests better align with those of the taxpayer. In a transportation context, risk transfer means that private sector players should be required to absorb construction cost overruns, excess operational costs, and lower‐​than‐​expected fare revenues. But from the CCTA press release, it is not clear what risk Glydways and the other companies will be expected to shoulder.

And the risks are substantial. Because this is a system that has yet to be tried in a real‐​world setting, a lot can go wrong with the vehicles and the dispatching technology. The unattended vehicles will be especially vulnerable to vandalism, which, unfortunately, is common in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Further, the cost and ridership projections for DPMT do not look promising. A 2021 presentation listed an annual ridership estimate of seven million, which works out to about 20,000 rides per weekday. The same presentation provided a capital cost estimate of $451 million. That seems like a lot of money to transport not too many people, and this is before operating costs are considered.

Further, if these numbers were re‐​estimated in 2024, they will probably look worse. General inflation has pushed up costs for all construction projects. Meanwhile, ridership on the connecting mass transit line (known as eBART) is running about half of 2019 levels. Since the ridership model for DPMT appears to be based on 2019 transit utilization rates, it is likely that a new model based on post‐​COVID transit use would project more modest ridership.

Potential utilization for DPMT is limited by the area’s relatively low population density. The four cities that would be served by the new transit system average about 4000 people per square mile, compared to over 7500 in Oakland and 17,700 in San Francisco.

Applying a new transit solution to this area sounds intriguing, but the relatively limited number of potential users may be more economically served by a new multi‐​use trail with shared e‑scooter and e‑bike stations.

This column first appeared on the CATO Institute website.

A resident of Walnut Creek, CA Joffe is a Federalism and State Policy Analyst with the CATO Institute.

 

Oakley man arrested for hit-and-run of bicyclist

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Timmy Hudson in a photo posted on his Facebook page on Dec. 2, 2023. and photo of his car that was taken prior to the incident. Car photo source: Oakley PD

Police seek assistance in locating suspect’s car; out of custody

By Oakley Police Department

On Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, shortly after midnight, Oakley police officers were dispatched to the area of Bridgehead Road and Main Street to investigate a male lying in the roadway. Our officers arrived and located an adult male victim lying in the road next to a bicycle. Officers rendered aid and summoned Emergency Medical Services. It was determined the victim was riding his bicycle home after getting off work and the victim was struck by a vehicle, unfortunately the victim succumbed to his injuries.

Oakley traffic investigators have reviewed several forms of digital media in the area and determined the vehicle involved in the collision fled the scene and did not stop to check on the victim. Traffic investigators have determined that vehicle to be a silver 2015 Toyota Camry, CA license plate # 8ERS961. The registered owner of the vehicle, Timmy Lee Hudson (55, Oakley), has been taken into custody in connection with this case, but he has not been forthcoming on where his vehicle is. Investigators have been actively attempting to locate Hudson’s vehicle but have been unable to do so up to this point.

Our efforts have included making contact with family members, searching his home and checking with auto body repair shops. Hudson is known to frequent the Oakland area as well as Oakley. The vehicle is believed to have sustained front end and windshield damage. It is possible the license plates are no longer attached to the vehicle at this point. We have checked local auto body shops, but we also realize there are dozens of auto body shops outside of our immediate area.

We are seeking the assistance of the public and we will do everything possible to be respectful of anonymity. If you have any information regarding this case or the whereabouts of Hudson’s vehicle, please contact Traffic Investigator Palmer at 925-625-8831 or Oakley PD Dispatch at 925-625-8060. We are additionally asking anybody associated with an auto body repair business to be on the lookout for a vehicle like Hudson’s in their shop.

For reference we have attached a photo of Hudson’s vehicle that was taken prior to this incident.

According to Hudson’s Facebook page, he works as a dishwasher at Drake’s Dealership and in maintenance at Groge M Martin Co., which is believed to be George M. Martin Company, in Emeryville, and claims to be a “loving father and husband.” According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, he is booked on Thursday, Dec. 21 and out of custody on bond as of Friday, Dec. 22.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Brentwood man, two teens arrested for Hayward carjacking

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Screenshot of dashcam video shows the carjacking suspects with their hands up being stopped on Balfour Road just west of John Muir Parkway on Dec. 15, 2023. Source: Brentwood Police

Weapon possibly used in crime confiscated; third arrest this year for one of the teens

By Brentwood Police Department

On Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, a Brentwood Officer was patrolling the area of Balfour Road and West County Club Drive when he was alerted to a vehicle that had just committed a carjacking in the City of Hayward.

The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the car, however the car attempted to flee from the officer. Fortunately, all occupants from the vehicle were safely detained at Balfour Road and John Muir Parkway.

The driver, identified as 21-year-old Zane Malakai Vincent of Brentwood, was placed under arrest. A weapon believed to be used in the commission of the crime was located. Hayward PD later responded to complete their investigation and the other two occupants, 18-year-old Christian Grajales of Hayward and 19-year-old Wilberth Yair MartinezHerrera of Newark, were identified as the suspects involved in the carjacking. (See dashcam video)

Crime has no borders and luckily, the officer was proactive in preventing the potential for additional crime in our city.

According to localcrimenews.com, Vincent was arrested for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, he bonded out on Dec. 16.

Also, according to localcrimenews.com, in addition to carjacking, Grajales was arrested for committing a felony while released on bail or own recognizance, conspiracy to commit a crime, assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and false imprisonment by violence.

It was his third arrest, this year as Grajales was arrested the day before by Newark Police for robbery and resisting, obstructing and/or delaying a peace officer. He was also arrested by Hayward Police on July 24, for exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm. According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, he is in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.

According to localcrimenews.com, MartinezHerrera was arrested for driving without a license, hit-and-run resulting in property damage, DUI and being a minor driving with a Blood Alcohol Content of .05% or more.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.