Alameda County Sheriff's Deputy Killed In Highway 580 Tesla Employee Bus Crash
TRACY (CBS SF) - An off-duty Alameda County Sheriff's deputy was killed Friday when his car was rear-ended by a bus carrying Tesla employees, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash happened just after 7 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 580 at Grant Line Road near Altamont Pass.
The bus was carrying 51 Tesla employees headed to Stockton when it slammed into Volkswagen Beetle driven by the deputy, which had been stopped in traffic.
Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern identified the deputy as 50-year-old Sroeuy Khin, who was on his way home to Stockton after working the overnight, overtime shift at Santa Rita Jail.
"It's a tragic day for us," Ahern said. "This is a tragedy for the family and for the entire law enforcement community."
Khin had been a deputy since 2007 and is survived by his wife and four children. He had previously served on the Stockton police force before taking the job with the Alameda County sheriff's office.
Ahern said a department chaplain was with the family.
Helicopter video of the scene showed Khin's VW with its back end sheared off and damage to the front of the bus.
One of the Tesla employees was treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, according to CHP spokesman Officer Derek Reed.
The bus driver told CHP investigators the early-morning sun was in his eyes as he traveled eastbound on the I-580 and he did not see the VW prior to the collision.
A Tesla spokesperson issued a statement Friday, saying the crash involved an independently-operated shuttle which carried employees. "All Tesla employees on the bus are safe and accounted for, however we are deeply saddened by reports that there was a fatality as a result of the accident. We will lend any support that we can to the authorities who are investigating the incident."
The CHP said the bus driver was cooperating with authorities. It was not believed that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
Another bus was brought in to transport the Tesla employees to Stockton.
Three out of four lanes of the highway were blocked initially following the crash. As of 11 a.m. one of the blocked lanes had been reopened and the entire highway was reopened around 2 p.m.
Traffic delays lasted nearly two hours, backing up traffic for eight to ten miles.
