Driver sustains major injuries in Berkeley freeway crash

A driver was rushed to the hospital with major injuries early Saturday morning after his SUV rolled over multiple times on the freeway in Berkeley, authorities report.

The driver, a 45-year-old man, was unconscious after the crash and remained in critical condition Saturday, authorities said.

The Berkeley Fire Department had to extricate the driver from his Toyota 4Runner due to the significant damage to his vehicle.

The circumstances of the crash remained under investigation and were not available as of publication time.

According to preliminary information, the driver was eastbound on I-80 at about 2:30 a.m. when the crash took place on the stretch of the freeway between University Avenue and Gilman Street.

The SUV left the freeway, crashing through the guardrail on the righthand shoulder onto Eastshore Highway, authorities said.

The vehicle rolled multiple times, taking out several large electrical boxes that power Caltrans signage above the freeway.

The electrical boxes were "ripped out of the ground," authorities said, and debris was left littering Eastshore Highway.

After leaving the freeway and rolling over on Eastshore, the vehicle somehow came to rest back on I-80 on its wheels, authorities said.

Berkeley firefighters found the driver trapped in his SUV, breathing but unresponsive.

The Berkeley Fire Department used extrication equipment to pry off his door and pistons to raise his roof, which had collapsed from the force of the crash.

After freeing the driver from the mangled vehicle, BFD provided advanced medical care as they rushed him to Highland Hospital "Code 3" (with lights and sirens).

As of Saturday, the driver was still alive "but being watched closely," authorities said. His city of residence was not immediately available.

After the crash, firefighters used an infrared thermal imaging device to search the area after seeing a car seat in the Toyota 4Runner.

Ultimately, however, they did not find anyone else needing care.

Read more about traffic safety in Berkeley.

Multiple fire engines, firetrucks and other personnel responded to the scene, from Berkeley as well as Albany, BFD said.

I-80 East was closed after the crash but had reopened fully as of 4:10 a.m. authorities said.

The occupant of a second vehicle that was somehow affected by the collision was also taken to the hospital for treatment, but their injuries were described as minor.

The Scanner will update this story if additional information becomes available.