Man struck on Berkeley freeway after sheriff's office chase

A man sustained major injuries Wednesday night when he was struck by a driver on the freeway in Berkeley during a police pursuit that began in Contra Costa County, authorities report.

Details were slim as of publication time, but authorities say the incident followed a pursuit into Alameda County by the Contra Costa County sheriff's office.

Scroll down for an update to the story.

Just before 8 p.m., the California Highway Patrol was alerted to a major injury crash on westbound I-80 near Ashby Avenue that involved an uninvolved passing motorist and a pedestrian, authorities said.

The pedestrian was believed to have been an occupant in a red SUV that was pursued by Contra Costa County sheriff's deputies into Alameda County on Wednesday night.

He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

"Lanes are blocked, multiple ambulances and fire trucks arrived, via the right shoulder," a reader told The Berkeley Scanner just before 8:45 p.m.

The Contra Costa County sheriff's office did not respond to multiple requests for information Wednesday night.

No information was available as to where or why the pursuit began, whether the Contra Costa County sheriff's office was able to stop the SUV and whether any arrests were made.

Freeway lanes on Interstate 80 were closed in both directions during the crash investigation but had fully reopened by 9:30 p.m.

Update, July 20: The Contra Costa County sheriff's office provided the following statement Thursday afternoon. It appears below in full.

On Wednesday, July 20 [sic], 2023, at about 7:48 PM, a deputy sheriff located an occupied stolen vehicle in San Pablo. The vehicle fled driving down a sidewalk even before the deputy tried to stop it. The deputy later caught up to the vehicle but terminated the pursuit when the car drove recklessly.

Another deputy later pursued the suspect vehicle after spotting it on westbound I-80. The vehicle apparently had mechanical problems and stopped on the freeway near the Powell Street exit. The driver and passenger fled the vehicle on foot and ran across the I-80 eastbound lanes where the driver was struck by a vehicle.

Deputies provided first-aid until paramedics arrived. The driver was taken to a local hospital. The Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Berkeley police officers and the CHP, searched for the passenger but were not able to locate him.

This incident remains under investigation.