A 37-year-old Oakland man died Friday evening after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car near Foothill Boulevard and 28th Avenue. Police had not identified him publicly as of this report, pending notification of his next of kin.
According to The Mercury News, the driver of the car remained at the scene following the crash and has been cooperating with the police investigation. Officers have not made any arrests in connection with the collision. Investigators told the outlet that the motorcyclist's speed was a factor in what happened, though it remains unclear whether alcohol or drugs played any role.
Oakland police are asking anyone with information about the collision to contact department traffic investigators at 510-777-8570.
A Familiar Pattern on Oakland Streets
Friday's crash echoes a string of fatal roadway incidents that have struck Oakland in recent years. In March 2024, a motorcyclist died after crashing into a light pole on Seminary Avenue near Outlook Avenue, with police telling the San Francisco Chronicle that the rider had attempted to change lanes before losing control. As in Friday's case, officers said speeding appeared to be a factor, while it remained unknown whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
Last September, a 63-year-old man riding an electric bicycle died after police said he rode through a stop sign in East Oakland and was struck by an SUV before colliding with a car, the same outlet reported. That victim was later identified by the coroner's bureau as Hector Ortega, days after the crash on Miller Avenue at East 16th Street. As in Friday's incident, the drivers involved in that collision stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to the report.
Tracking Traffic Deaths Citywide
The city maintains a dedicated platform for monitoring traffic fatalities, offering real-time data through an interactive map, per the City of Oakland. At the state level, the California Office of Traffic Safety tracks motorcycle crashes as any collision involving a motorcycle in which victims were killed or injured.
Friday's fatal crash remains under investigation, and no further details about the circumstances leading up to the collision have been released.
