A Pleasanton man is facing criminal charges in connection with a hit-and-run that killed an East Oakland bicyclist, according to court records. Authorities say 38-year-old Bartholomew “Bart” Drawsand was struck while riding his bike on April 27 and died two days later. Investigators allege the driver took off in a Range Rover, then later walked into a police station to report that same vehicle stolen. The suspect was arrested in mid May and released on $200,000 bail as the case moves through Alameda County Superior Court.
Charges and court records
Yesterday, prosecutors filed charges against 26-year-old Samir Gray of Pleasanton. According to East Bay Times, Gray is accused of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter; felony counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing death or serious injury and evasion with willful disregard for public safety; and misdemeanor counts of filing a false report of a criminal offense and disobeying a court order. Court filings state that a warrant was issued for Gray’s arrest earlier in the spring and that he was booked in North Oakland on May 14, then released on bail.
Crash that killed Drawsand
The collision happened around 7:23 PM on April 27 at 23rd Avenue and East 22nd Street. Officers arrived to find Drawsand suffering life-threatening injuries, and he died two days later, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Investigators and witnesses described a violent impact, saying the bicyclist was carried dozens of feet by the vehicle that hit him. The deadly crash has again focused attention on the risks faced by people biking on East Oakland’s residential streets.
Investigation and surveillance
According to documents reviewed by the East Bay Times, traffic cameras recorded a Range Rover heading north on Park Boulevard about four minutes after the crash, with major front-end damage and a temporary license plate. Residential surveillance video later showed what investigators say was the same SUV parked in the 2000 block of Courtland Avenue, and a person matching the suspect was seen running away on foot. The filings state that officers with the East Bay Regional Park District pursued the SUV onto Interstate 580 during the investigation and that within hours, Gray went to the Oakland police to report the Range Rover stolen.
Legal background
Court records reviewed by reporters indicate that Gray has multiple prior felony convictions, including a federal firearms conviction in 2020 and other convictions in Contra Costa County from 2017 and 2021. The current complaint combines the vehicular manslaughter allegation with the related felony and misdemeanor counts tied to leaving the scene and allegedly trying to hide the vehicle’s role in the crash. The case is proceeding in Alameda County Superior Court, where prosecutors are expected to set an arraignment and pretrial schedule.
What the police are asking
Investigators have asked anyone with video or information to contact the Oakland Police Department’s Traffic Investigation Unit, and earlier coverage listed the department’s tip lines and email for submitting photos or footage. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, neighborhood camera footage and community tips were crucial in tracking the vehicle involved. The case remains open as prosecutors work through the charging process and residents continue to push for answers on street safety in the area.
