8 Traffic Fatalities In Fremont In 2021: Police

Press release from the Fremont Police Department:

The Fremont Police Department, together with the Public Works, Transportation Engineering Division, are saddened by the serious injuries and recent loss of precious lives due to traffic collisions.

Since 2015, Transportation Engineering and the Police Department have worked collaboratively with the goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries with the City’s Vision Zero traffic safety program. We understand the challenge of meeting this particular goal, but we persist, nonetheless.

Although this recent surge of serious collisions is of concern, it should be noted that since Vision Zero began, the City of Fremont has been rated as one of the safest cities in the State and Nation. The overall number of major traffic collisions, which include fatalities and severe injuries, has decreased by 45% since 2015.

On the national front, traffic fatalities are rising due to disturbing trends associated with reckless behavior and an increase in the unhoused population. In Fremont, two of the eight fatal collisions have involved members of our unhoused community. Most of the crashes have involved illegal behaviors including excessive speed, intoxicated driving, or hit and run collisions with pedestrians.

Three of the eight fatalities have been within Fremont’s city limits but on roadways under State jurisdiction.

Here is a summary of the eight tragic traffic fatalities we have experienced as a City in 2021:

On the morning of February 4th, a motorcycle driven by a 46-year-old man was traveling northbound on Mission Blvd (State Route 238) approaching Mayhews Rd. At about the same time, a box truck attempted to cross Mission Blvd, westbound from Mayhews Rd. The motorcycle was determined to have been traveling at an excessive speed, and due to the motorcyclist’s speed, the driver of the truck could not see him. The motorcyclist was unable to avoid colliding into the box truck. Unfortunately, the motorcyclist died at the scene. The driver of the box truck was cooperative and stayed on the scene. Alcohol or drugs were not suspected to be a factor in the collision.

On March 9th, during the early morning hours, an 81-year-old male pedestrian was found lying down in the intersection of 2nd and J St in Niles, deceased. Officers who arrived on the scene determined the pedestrian had been the victim of a hit-and-run collision. There were no witnesses to the collision. Based on the injuries sustained by the pedestrian, the Alameda County Coroner believes the subject was struck by a vehicle. Officers continue to explore investigative leads and process evidence related to the collision.

On April 9th, during hours of darkness, a car traveling at high speed eastbound on Thornton Ave over I880 ran a red light and broadsided a pick-up truck that had proceeded northbound into the intersection after a green light. The drivers of both vehicles were significantly injured. A passenger in the car; a 30-year-old male ultimately perished due to the injuries he sustained as a result of the crash. The driver of the car was suspected to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the collision.

On April 10th, during the evening commute, a motorcycle, driven by a 50-year-old male, was traveling southbound on Mission Blvd (State Route 238) approaching Dalgo Rd. At about the same time, a Toyota Prius was attempting to cross Mission Blvd, eastbound from Dalgo Rd. The motorcycle was determined to have been traveling at an excessive speed which caused the driver of the Prius not to see him, and it also prevented the motorcyclist from avoiding crashing into the Prius. Due to the injuries sustained by the motorcyclist, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorcyclist’s speed at the time of the collision was determined to be the main cause. The driver of the Prius was cooperative and stayed on the scene. Alcohol or drugs was not suspected to be a factor.

On June 26th, during the hours of darkness, a 43-year-old male pedestrian, an unhoused person, was walking in the inside lane of westbound Decoto Rd, just west of Paseo Padre Pkwy, when he was struck by a car. The male suffered major head trauma and died as a result of his injuries. The driver of the car has been cooperating with the investigation, and there is no suspicion of alcohol or drug influence.

On June 30th, during the hours of darkness, a 69-year-old unhoused man was pushing a stroller full of recyclables at the north curb line of westbound Peralta Blvd while approaching Dusterberry Way. The male crossed in front of the right turn lane pocket for northbound Dusterberry Way when he was struck by a compact vehicle and was thrown to the roadway near the pedestrian island. The suspect driver initially stopped, reversed, and then drove off northbound on Dusterberry Way. The pedestrian sustained significant head trauma and ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Officers continue to investigate the case and follow up on leads.

On July 4th, during the nighttime hours, a group of juveniles were riding bicycles westbound in the westbound lane of Hansen Ave, approaching Dondero Way. Video taken at the time of the collision shows Bicyclist #1 ride a wheelie in the westbound lane and continue in the westbound lane. Bicyclist #2 crossed over both lanes of traffic diagonally to the south side of the Hansen Ave shoulder as a vehicle traveling eastbound approached. Bicyclist #3, a 15-year old male, the decedent, was approximately ten feet behind Bicyclist #2, who had already made it to the south shoulder. Bicyclist #3 was still riding diagonally in the middle of the eastbound Hansen Ave lane when the vehicle traveling eastbound struck the bicyclist. The driver immediately stopped and cooperated with the investigation. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and sustained massive head trauma due to the collision. Due to the extensive head injury, the juvenile bicyclist ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The driver has been cooperating with the investigation, and there is no suspicion of alcohol or drug influence.

The Fremont Police Department is committed to providing education and enforcement to drivers throughout the City. Also, the Public Works Department is continuing to develop street improvement projects that serve to reduce the risk of severe injury and fatal traffic crashes. We understand that each of these fatal collisions is unique and represent a life lost. We empathize with the friends and families of the victims and work tirelessly to the best of our ability to prevent these tragedies from happening in the future.

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A PDF version of this press release is available here.

This press release was produced by the Fremont Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.