Interstate 880 Oakland Closed In Stolen Van Crash, Police Standoff
OAKLAND (KCBS) – Interstate 880 near the Oakland Coliseum was closed in both directions for more than two hours Monday morning following after a police chase and standoff with a man in a stolen van.
The California Highway Patrol said the driver was headed northbound on the freeway and crashed into the center divide near 66th Avenue after a brief chase with officers.
"We had CHP officers out of the Hayward area come across a reported stolen van. They attempted to stop the van but the driver of the van did not comply," said CHP spokesman Sam Morgan.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
After trying to negotiate with the suspect, CHP officers surround the vehicle, but found no one inside.
"We coordinated with the Oakland Police Department, used their SWAT team to clear the vehicle, at which time we found out the vehicle was unoccupied," said Steve True with the CHP.
Authorities believe he fled the scene and after a search and officers were unable to find him.
Both directions of Interstate 880 were reopened to traffic just before 6 a.m., but traffic was snarled for much of the early morning commute because of the highway shutdown.
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