Pedestrian Killed, Another Injured in Oakland After Stolen Vehicle Crash During CHP Pursuit

A recent high-speed pursuit by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Oakland tragically culminated in a pedestrian fatality and severe injury to another when the suspect driving a reportedly stolen vehicle crashed last night, as per local authorities. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 PM near the intersection of East 21st Street and 12th Avenue, where the suspect's Infiniti sedan collided with two pedestrians and then veered into a tree, according to NBC Bay Area.

The police pursuit started on Park Street, where the Infiniti struck a minivan before shearing a fire hydrant and ultimately hitting the pedestrians, police said. Despite the tragic outcome, alcohol or drugs "do not appear to be factors in the crash." Just days before this incident, the Oakland Police Commission publicly considered revising the city's police chase policy amid an intense debate over the balance between law enforcement tools and public safety. Gov. Gavin Newsom has warned that he might remove CHP from Oakland's streets unless changes are made, NBC Bay Area reports.

On the scene, officers found a man and a woman on the ground with severe injuries. The man succumbed to his injuries there, and the woman was taken to a hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. Both were Oakland residents in their 40s, and according to police, they were on the sidewalk during the incident. The CHP apprehended the driver at the scene, as noted by KTVU.

The authorities have yet to disclose the identities of the pedestrians and the suspect. The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is to lead the investigation into the suspect's death, while the CHP handles the case surrounding the stolen vehicle involved in the pursuit. The incident serves to underscore the contentious nature of police chases, recently highlighted by a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that could hold Oakland police responsible for bystander injuries or fatalities during such chases. This ruling came as a victory for the family of an individual killed in an unrelated pursuit in June 2022. For further details or to provide tips, the OPD encourages contacting their Traffic Section at 510-777-8570 or sending any relevant videos to [email protected], according to KTVU.

Henry K. Lee, reporting via social media, described the further context surrounding the chase, indicating the Infiniti had collided with a Toyota minivan before hitting the pedestrians. Shaken by the events, the owner of the minivan expressed shock upon learning that the tragedy unfolded shortly after their encounter with the suspect's vehicle. The CHP's Golden Gate Division clarified that the pursuit was not active at the time of the fatal crash, as mentioned in the social media post from Henry K. Lee.

Pedestrian killed, hydrant sheared at East 21st St & 12th Ave. when driver crashes stolen Infiniti G35 while trying to elude @CHPoakland. Minutes earlier, suspect crashed into Toyota minivan at Park & East 21st & took off, per @oaklandpoliceca pic.twitter.com/sCUbHZkn1z

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) May 29, 2025