Two Killed, Officer Injured in Stolen SUV Crash with Oakland Police Cruiser

Two men were killed and an Oakland police officer was injured Monday morning when a stolen SUV crashed into a patrol vehicle in East Oakland, authorities said.

The incident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. at the intersection of East 12th Street and 29th Avenue in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. According to officials, an Oakland Housing Authority police officer observed the SUV being driven erratically on East 12th Street and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver refused to yield and fled at high speed.

The Housing Authority officer discontinued the pursuit, deactivating emergency lights and sirens. However, the SUV continued eastbound on East 12th Street before colliding with a marked Oakland Police Department patrol SUV at 29th Avenue. The impact deployed the patrol vehicle’s airbags, and the officer inside was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The stolen SUV came to rest on its side after striking the police cruiser and a support pillar for the elevated BART tracks. Two male passengers in the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by a Housing Authority officer.

Oakland police are leading the investigation into the fatal collision, which prompted the closure of the busy intersection near Cesar Chavez Soccer Field and a local school. The Oakland Animal Shelter is located approximately one block from the scene.

An Oakland City Council member who represents the Fruitvale District, addressed the incident, stating, “This isn’t an action that we see here on a daily basis. You know, there are many people without a driver’s license that are driving, stealing people’s cars. And the bottom line is we just need to enforce the laws that we have that apply to all of us.”

The Alameda County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, where crime scene technicians, a drone unit, and the Oakland Police Department’s Argus helicopter assisted in documenting evidence. Authorities indicated the driver of the stolen SUV could face criminal charges related to the deaths of the two passengers.

The investigation remains ongoing.