At midnight on Thursday, a police cruiser from the City of Orinda met an unfortunate fate as it crashed through a Wells Fargo building during a high-speed pursuit, with the vehicle leaving extensive damage in its wake. The incident occurred at the intersection of Moraga Way and Camino Pablo, near the Orinda Theatre Square shopping center.
The reason for the pursuit was an attempt to catch up to auto burglary suspects fleeing from Moraga into Orinda. Reports of a suspicious vehicle and occupants burglarizing cars in Moraga had been received just moments before the ill-fated crash.
The unidentified officer, who would later find himself briefly trapped within his own vehicle, was believed to be trying to head off the suspect's car as it fled toward Orinda. Losing control of his cruiser during the chase, the officer could not complete a turn, resulting in him crashing into the Wells Fargo bank.
As reported on Twitter by Henry K. Lee, the officer could be heard saying, "I'm in a TC (traffic collision). I'm inside the Wells Fargo (cough). I'm stuck in the car. I can't get out at the moment." Before long, he was extricated from the wreckage. The injured officer sustained an injury to his foot and received treatment at the John Muir Hospital.
“I’m in a TC (traffic collision). I’m inside the @WellsFargo (cough). I’m stuck in the car. I can’t get out at the moment.” @CityofOrinda officer crashes into Moraga Way bank while trying to catch up to theft suspect in car. He was extricated pic.twitter.com/iVDlv2nOAr
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) August 25, 2023
Meanwhile, repair crews arrived on the scene to address the extensive damage to the bank, including the placement of wood panels over the damaged corner of the brick structure. The Wells Fargo, which was closed at the time of the crash, was expected to reopen its doors by 9 a.m. that day.
