A 14-year-old boy suffered life-threatening injuries Friday morning after the Mazda sedan he was riding in collided with a commercial box truck on Alvarado-Niles Road just west of Decoto Road in Union City, shutting down a major commuter corridor for nearly four hours during the height of the morning rush.
The crash happened around 8 a.m., according to Union City Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Brandon Hayward, as reported by SFGate. The teen was found in the front passenger seat of the Mazda, police said, and was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. As of the latest update, there was no immediate word on his condition, according to The Mercury News.
Both drivers remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, and police said neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to play a role in the collision. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001, drivers involved in collisions resulting in injury are legally required to stop, present identification, and render aid to the injured, according to statutory summaries published by Justia Law.
A Corridor Choked Off During School Drop-Off
The collision forced authorities to close all eastbound lanes of Alvarado-Niles Road for nearly four hours, with the corridor fully reopening around noon, per reporting from Bay City News. The timing hit particularly hard: The crash occurred during the morning rush.
Alvarado-Niles Road is a major thoroughfare in Union City, according to the city's General Plan. The crash unfolded during peak hours.
A History of Serious Crashes at This Intersection
This isn't the first time the Decoto and Alvarado-Niles roads have seen a severe collision. An AC Transit bus collided with a passenger vehicle and a tree at the location, injuring five people who were transported to hospitals while five others declined transport, according to Patch. Alameda County Fire Department officials provided information about that collision.
The crash prompted road closures in Union City.
Investigators Seek Witnesses
The Union City Police Department is leading the investigation, with Officer Joseph Goodrich asking anyone with information or footage of the crash to come forward. Witnesses can reach Goodrich at 510-675-5264, according to official police updates.
