Hit-and-Run Killer Remains at Large in Oakland as Elderly Woman Dies, OPD Seeks Suspect

The loss of a 94-year-old woman killed in a hit-and-run on July 3, 2023 has led the Oakland Police Department (OPD) to seek the community's help in identifying the driver of the Dodge Challenger involved in the incident that occurred just before 7:00 PM at the intersection of 45th Avenue and Bancroft Avenue. A statement from Paul Chambers, the Strategic Communications Manager from the Oakland Police Department, brought the situation to public attention.

According to the statement, the Dodge Challenger was traveling northbound on 45th Avenue and failed to stop at a stop sign before entering the intersection at a high rate of speed. At the same time, a Mercedes 220 was traveling eastbound on Bancroft Avenue through the same intersection, the two vehicles colliding in a disastrous encounter. In the chaos that ensued, the driver of the Dodge Challenger fled the scene on foot, leaving behind a passenger who was later arrested for firearm possession charges.

The Mercedes 220 carried three passengers, all Oakland residents who were rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Tragically, the 94-year-old woman passed away the following day due to the injuries she sustained from the accident, having held on for just a brief time in the face of overwhelming bodily trauma. The two other passengers continue to fight for their lives.

The OPD and CrimeStoppers of Oakland are not standing idly by, as they offer a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest in this heart-shattering case. The OPD's Traffic Investigation Unit has opened several lines of communication, including a direct phone number at (510) 777-8570, urging people with any relevant information or even the smallest inkling about the identity of the perpetrator to come forward and assist in this crucial investigation.