One Killed in Berkeley Interstate 80 Big Rig Truck Crash

BERKELEY, CA – One person died Friday afternoon in a westbound Interstate 80 collision involving a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer in Berkeley. The California Highway Patrol said the fatal freeway crash occurred at about 3:30 p.m. east of Ashby Avenue while a separate, noninjury collision developed nearby.

Five Vehicles Reported Near University Avenue

The first emergency calls placed the fatal collision near the University Avenue exit shortly before 3:30 p.m. CHP later said at least five vehicles were involved. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials did not report any other confirmed injuries in the initial public updates.

CHP’s Oakland office identified a tractor-trailer and a pickup truck among the vehicles. Emergency dispatch information and video from the scene indicated that the pickup struck the rear of the big rig, according to a detailed scene account. The impact crushed much of the pickup’s front end, and first responders worked around several damaged vehicles on the westbound lanes.

Authorities did not say whether the person who died was driving or riding in the pickup, the tractor-trailer or another vehicle. The Alameda County coroner arrived at about 7 p.m. Multiple vehicles were towed after emergency crews and investigators completed their work at the scene.

Separate Collision Caused No Injuries

CHP distinguished the fatal wreck from another collision reported at roughly the same time on the same freeway corridor. The second crash involved three vehicles west of University Avenue, and authorities reported no injuries from that incident. The two crashes were not described as part of the same chain of events.

The fatal collision closed lanes three through five on westbound I-80. CHP issued a Sigalert at about 3:40 p.m. and advised motorists to use alternate routes while responders worked. The roadway reopened at about 7:40 p.m., approximately four hours after the crash was reported.

Investigators had not announced which vehicle initiated the sequence or whether speed, following distance, a lane change or traffic conditions contributed. No arrest or citation was reported. CHP also had not identified the tractor-trailer’s carrier or released information about the commercial vehicle’s load in the first reports.

The reported rear impact established where the pickup and tractor-trailer first made contact, but it did not explain why the distance between them closed. Authorities had not said whether traffic ahead was stopped or slowing before the collision.

The agency continued investigating the pickup’s rear impact with the big rig and the involvement of the other vehicles. CHP had not released a final collision sequence or assigned fault by Friday night.