Hercules Man Killed In Crash Served As El Cerrito Police Officer

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A Hercules man who died Sunday morning in a crash on Interstate Highway 80 in San Pablo was identified Monday as an El Cerrito police officer.

"On his way home from work, Officer Jerrick Bernstine was involved in a traffic collision on Interstate 80 near San Pablo Dam Rd.," the El Cerrito Police Department said Monday. "A van in front of Officer Bernstine lost control and collided with the center median. Officer Bernstine’s car struck the van and he died at the scene."

The crash was reported at 6:15 a.m. Sunday on eastbound I-80 west of San Pablo Dam Road. The driver of a transit van lost control of their vehicle and it hit the center divider, coming to rest in the wrong direction, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Three other vehicles hit the van and Bernstine was in one of the vehicles. Two others were hospitalized with major injuries. California Highway Patrol was still investigating the cause of the crash.

Bernstine began his career with the El Cerrito Police Department in 2019 as an academy recruit and became a police officer in February 2020.

"Officer Bernstine was passionate about giving back to his community and became a police officer after first working as an in-home caregiver," El Cerrito PD said.

"In his two years with the ECPD he was recognized as a model officer, combining a humble personality with a tenacious crime-fighting spirit.

"Officer Bernstine was 26 at the time of his death and he was everything a person could hope for in a police officer, citizen, teammate, son, brother, and friend."