City Of Berkeley: National Night Out Is Tonight, August 3! Meet Neighbors, Build Community!

Press release from City of Berkeley:

August 04, 2021

Berkeley, California (Wednesday, August 04, 2021) - We recognize there has been significant community concern surrounding the recent fatal traffic collision on Ashby Avenue at Newbury Street, where a woman lost her life, and another was injured. Because of these concerns and the seriousness of this collision, the Berkeley Police Department would like to take a moment to provide our community with additional information about the investigation.

This remains an active investigation and therefore there are some details we are unable to share at this time. However, our hope is this information will provide our community with a better understanding of the usual investigative procedures around fatal traffic collisions as well as specific actions that occurred that evening.

On the night of July 26th, emergency personnel were responding to an unrelated collision that occurred in the area of Telegraph Avenue and Ashby Avenue. While on their way to the collision, the Berkeley Police Department began to receive multiple calls about the collision on Ashby Avenue at Newbury Street. In response, some officers were diverted to this second more serious Ashby Avenue and Newbury Street collision. Additional emergency personnel were also summoned to assist.

Because of the severity of the collision on Ashby Avenue and Newbury Street, the Department requested (called-in from home) members of the Department’s Fatal Accident Investigation Team (FAIT). The FAIT team is comprised of personnel with additional/advanced training in traffic collisions, investigations, and evidence collection.

While investigating the series of events surrounding the collision, investigators contacted the people involved in the incident as well as witnesses in the area. Investigators also searched the area for any video surveillance cameras that may have captured the incident. These investigative steps are standard in an incident of this type.

This press release was produced by City of Berkeley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.