Full Notification

On March 4th, at approximately 0010 hours, the El Cerrito Police Department responded to the report of a single vehicle collision at Van Fleet Avenue and San Pablo Avenue. A Honda Civic, travelling at a high rate of speed, left the wet roadway and drove onto the sidewalk of San Pablo Avenue at Columbia Avenue. The resulting collision damaged several businesses, trees, garbage cans and benches. The vehicle came to rest on Van Fleet Avenue. When officers arrived, the driver fled on foot but was taken into custody a short distance away. Remarkably no one was seriously injured during the collision, although there were pedestrians in the area. The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while traffic investigators investigated the scene. The City of El Cerrito corporation yard responded and cleaned a large amount of debris out of the roadway. San Pablo Avenue (SR-123) is currently open for traffic.

The driver, a 25 year old male Berkeley resident was booked into the Contra Costa County Martinez Detention facility on charges of driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, hit and run and resisting arrest.

This incident illustrated the importance of never drinking alcoholic beverages and operating a motor vehicle. While no one was seriously injured, this collision will negatively impact the local business community as several store fronts were damaged as well as the inventory of a local car dealer.