Police pursuit in Berkeley ends in injury accident in Oakland; 2 arrested

A police chase between Berkeley officers and a suspect driving an allegedly stolen red Audi ended in multiple accident scenes in Oakland, injuring four people, including a Berkeley police officer, according to authorities.

While police have not yet released official information about the incident, several Berkeley and Oakland police cruisers and at least one ambulance were at the scene of the crash under the I-580 overpass near the Calaveras Ave. intersection. and Buell St.

Apparently the police had pinned the suspicious vehicle under the overpass.

Chopper footage showed a person being carried on a stretcher into an ambulance. Another person could also be seen on a stretcher who appeared to be wearing handcuffs.

There was at least one other accident scene near 35th Avenue and the MacArthur Freeway that appeared to involve at least two other vehicles, including a school bus.

Early Wednesday evening, Berkeley Police confirmed to CBS News Bay Area that officers were investigating a possible stolen vehicle after receiving an ALPR alert.

Officers determined the license plate was a stolen vehicle and saw the car pull into the parking lot of a grocery store in downtown Berkeley. According to police, the pursuit began around 1:40 p.m. when the suspect vehicle saw police and fled the parking lot.

According to police, as the suspect fled, he struck a patrol vehicle, nearly collided with another occupied patrol vehicle, and then drove onto the sidewalk, nearly hitting several pedestrians.

The police pursuit of the vehicle led officers to Oakland. As the vehicle approached the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Calaveras Avenue, the suspects collided with two vehicles at the intersection. Officers took two suspects – an adult female driver and an adult male passenger – into custody without further incident.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, hit-and-run and attempted assault with a deadly weapon using a vehicle, while the passenger was arrested on an outstanding warrant and other offenses. As a result of the collision, both suspects were taken to the hospital for medical examination.

The driver of one of the vehicles involved in the collision was taken to the hospital for pain, and a Berkeley police officer was also taken to the hospital for a leg injury.