Christmas Day 2025 turned into a nightmare in East Oakland when 12-year-old Khalil Johnson was hit by a car, dragged for roughly a third of a mile and left with devastating injuries. His mother, Krystal Murphy, says he was rushed into surgery for severe facial and head trauma and has now returned home to begin a long recovery. The driver who hit him has not been found, and Murphy says she is determined to see someone held responsible.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, court records show Khalil was struck around 5:17 p.m. near Coolidge Avenue and Davis Street while riding a scooter, then dragged under the vehicle before the driver fled. The Chronicle reports he suffered a split head, fractured ribs, a broken nose and lost teeth, and that he returned home last week after three major facial surgeries. As of today, no arrests had been made, and Murphy told the paper she wants “justice, clarity and closure.”
Khalil was treated at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland at 747 52nd Street, where surgeons repaired his facial injuries. The family says it is raising money to help cover his recovery, medical bills, and therapy as he rehabilitates.
City Response And Safety Context
The crash comes amid what city officials describe as a persistent pattern of traffic violence in Oakland, where they say roughly two people are killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes each week. As part of its efforts to cut severe collisions, the City of Oakland has approved a speed safety program that will deploy automated cameras on high-risk corridors.
What The Law Says
Leaving the scene of an accident that causes injury is a crime in California. Under California Vehicle Code §20001, drivers involved in injury or fatal collisions must stop, provide identifying information and render aid. Penalties range from fines to prison time, depending on the severity of the injuries and other circumstances.
Murphy says she wants someone to come forward and for the driver to be held accountable. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at (510) 238-3744 or the department's non-emergency line at (510) 777-3333, according to the Oakland Police Department.
