Oakland police pulled a driver from a burning car after a July 13, 2020, collision that killed his passenger, then later determined the man was intoxicated and, prosecutors say, responsible for the wreck. The crash happened where Foothill Boulevard meets 68th Avenue when a Mercedes ran a red light and struck a big rig, igniting flames that spread into the driver's seat. One passenger, 31-year-old Tahara Day, was killed at the scene.
What prosecutors allege
The man accused in the crash is 39-year-old Travon Troupe of Hayward, who prosecutors first charged in February 2021 after investigators reviewed the collision. Charging documents reviewed by The Mercury News indicate Troupe's blood-alcohol concentration measured at nearly twice the legal limit. Prosecutors also alleged drunken driving causing injury to another passenger and the truck driver.
How common are alcohol-related crashes here
Alcohol-impaired crashes continue to make up a large share of roadway deaths in California, often clustered at night and on weekends. Data from SafeTREC show alcohol-involved fatalities rose between 2020 and 2021 and remain a persistent safety problem for urban arterials across the state.
Court status and conditions
Prosecutors say Troupe was arrested last December after the case had remained pending for years, and that the charging paperwork includes a vehicular manslaughter count tied to Day's death. Court records and reporting show he was released after posting $50,000 bail and that a judge ordered him to enroll in Alcoholics Anonymous as a condition of release, The Mercury News reported.
Remembering the passenger
Family members described Day in an obituary as a loving and kind person who enjoyed cooking and children; the notice said she is survived by a son and several nieces and nephews. Friends and relatives have called the crash a tragic reminder of how quickly an ordinary night can become a permanent loss for loved ones. The criminal case against Troupe remains pending in Alameda County Superior Court.
