Berkeley police pursuit ends in Oakland injury crash; 2 arrested
A police pursuit involving Berkeley officers and a suspect driving an allegedly stolen red Audi ended in multiple crash sites in Oakland, injuring four people including a Berkeley police officer, authorities said.
While police have yet to release any official information regarding the incident, multiple Berkeley and Oakland police patrol cars and at least one ambulance at the scene of a collision under the I-580 overpass near the intersection of Calaveras Ave. and Buell St.
Police appeared to have pinned the suspect vehicle under the overpass.
Chopper footage showed one person on a stretcher being placed in an ambulance. Another person was also visible on a stretcher who appeared to be in handcuffs.
There was at least one other accident scene near 35th Ave. and the MacArthur Freeway that appeared to have involved at least two other vehicles, including a school bus.
Early Wednesday evening, Berkeley police confirmed to CBS News Bay Area that officers were investigating a possible stolen vehicle after receiving an ALPR alert.
Officers determined the car's license plate came back to a stolen vehicle and saw the car pull into the parking lot of a grocery store in downtown Berkeley. Police said the pursuit started at around 1:40 p.m. when the suspect vehicle saw police and fled the parking lot.
Police said in the process of fleeing, the suspect struck a patrol vehicle, nearly collided with another occupied patrol vehicle and then drove onto the sidewalk, nearly striking several pedestrians.
The police pursuit of the vehicle led officers into Oakland. When the vehicle reached the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Calaveras Avenue, the suspects collided with two vehicles in the intersection. Officers took two suspects -- an adult female driver and an adult male passenger -- into custody without further incident.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen vehicle, hit and run, and attempted assault with a deadly weapon using a vehicle, while and the passenger was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant and other crimes. As a result of the collision, both suspects were transported to the hospital for medical evaluation.
The driver of one of the vehicles involved in the collision was transported to the hospital for a complaint of pain and a Berkeley police officer was also taken to the hospital for a leg injury they sustained.