Crime & Safety

Former El Cerrito High Student Killed in Crash

A 26-year-old man who attended El Cerrito High School, Alexander Chappell, was killed Thursday night in a crash on Interstate 880. The driver of car that collided with his truck was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The Alameda County coroner's office has identified the man killed in a Thursday night crash on Interstate 880 as Alexander Chappell, 26, of Richmond, according to Bay City News service.

Chappell, a blacksmith, attended .

He was driving a Chevy pickup about 8 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the freeway near the Interstate 80 connector when, according to what witnesses told the California Highway Patrol, a speeding Kia Spectra collided with the truck in an attempt to connect onto I-80, Bay City reported.

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The coroner's bureau said Chappell died of blunt force trauma to the head, Bay City said. A passenger in the truck was hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening. Both were wearing seatbelts, according to the coroner's office.

Officials said the Kia driver, Joshua Blackburn, 28, of Sacramento, was arrested for investigation of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, the Contra Costa Times reported.

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