KPFA Radio Host, Father Of 3 Killed In Oakland Hit-And-Run Crash
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- A board operator and co-host at the public radio station KPFA died in a hit-and-run crash in Oakland early Saturday morning.
Wesley Burton, co-host of the Sideshow Radio and After Hours music shows for KPFA, was killed after leaving his shift, according to KPFA's David Rosenberg.
Police said a driver of a Dodge Charger was driving at high speeds west on 60th Street when it collided with the Mercury Sable driven by Burton around 2:20 a.m.
The driver of the Dodge then ran away, according to police.
Berkeley police were the first to arrive on scene and advised Oakland police that Burton was suffering from major injuries, police said.
Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures, but Burton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Members of the "KPFA family" said in a statement they are grieving the sudden loss of Burton and called him a "kind, helpful, easy-going person and committed broadcaster."
"He was highly loved in the city of Oakland. He was highly loved in here, in radio. He has always left a positive impression," Dev Ross, one of Burton's friends who works at KPFA told KPIX 5.
Chris Riggins, who also worked alongside Burton at the station said, "He was my best friend. He's the only person I could talk to about stuff."
He leaves behind his wife, Lucretia, three children, family and friends.
"Wesley will be profoundly missed," the statement reads.
A GoFundMe account has also been established to help Burton's family with funeral expenses and other costs, according to the campaign page.
As of around 9:00 a.m. Monday, the campaign had raised more than $15,188 out of a $22,000 goal.
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