3 Killed in Oakland After Juvenile Driver Plows Into Pedestrians

A teenage driver barreled into a group of pedestrians outside a liquor store Saturday night, killing three people and leaving a community demanding answers.

OAKLAND, CA (May 18, 2026) — Three people are dead and at least three others are hospitalized — two of them in critical condition — after a juvenile driver drove a vehicle into a crowd gathered outside a market and liquor store in East Oakland late Saturday night. The driver was arrested at the scene after bystanders physically stopped him from fleeing.

The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. near International Boulevard and 85th Avenue. What should have been an ordinary Saturday night in East Oakland turned into something nobody in that neighborhood is going to forget.

What Happened

According to Oakland police, the teenage driver was traveling at high speed along 85th Avenue before making a turn onto International Boulevard. The vehicle first struck a parked car and then continued onto the sidewalk, mowing down people who had gathered outside the East Bay Market and Liquor Store. 

The sequence of events that followed made a devastating crash even more chilling. Surveillance video shows the driver speeding down the roadway before slamming into the parked car and the victims. Officials say the driver tried to run from the scene, but witnesses stopped him and detained him until police arrived. 

Witness Michael Turner was across the street when it happened. His nephew was among those struck. “You heard tires screeching, then all of a sudden you heard a loud bang,” Turner said. “When he hit the first car, it sounded like he stepped on the gas even harder. He hit the car, he stepped on the gas. You heard the engine roared, and he just took off right down the sidewalk.” 

Another witness described the same terrifying acceleration. “He hit this blue car right here, and I guess he hit the gas and went even faster and went down the whole sidewalk and just sideswiped all those people. And he took off running… I saw him hit this car. I seen him coming, but there was nothing I could do. He was going too fast.” 

Victims and Witnesses Speak to Police

Three pedestrians died at the scene. Paramedics transported three other pedestrians to local hospitals. Some victims are stable, and others are in critical condition. The driver was also taken to a hospital for minor injuries before being taken into custody. 

Shedrick Henry, a childhood friend of one of the injured, was visibly distraught while speaking to reporters outside the hospital. “We’re praying for him. He’s going through surgery,” he said. “It’s horrible. It’s a nightmare. It’s a nightmare for the community. These are people’s loved ones.” 

Witness Cornelius Reed, who also knew victims personally, told reporters the scene was deeply personal — many of those caught up in it were people he had grown up alongside in the neighborhood.

The Investigation in the Oakland Car Crash

The juvenile driver of the car was arrested in connection with the incident, OPD said. Because the driver is under 18, authorities have not publicly identified him. Police said they had not yet determined whether the crash was intentional or whether alcohol or drugs played any role. 

Under California law, juveniles can be tried as adults in serious felony cases. Given that three people died and multiple others remain in critical condition, prosecutors will face pressure to address the severity of the outcome regardless of the driver’s age.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit at (510) 777-8570. Additionally, if you have any videos or photos that could assist with the investigation, please send them to cidvideos@oaklandca.gov.

Oakland Community and Political Fallout

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee issued a statement: “Oakland is mourning the lives lost in last night’s tragic crash at International Boulevard and 85th Avenue in East Oakland. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, loved ones, and all of those impacted.”

Councilmember Noel Gallo said Oakland needs more police officers on the streets. “It’s very clear what we need to do to strengthen Oakland. When it comes to public safety. We need more officers Monday through Sunday, daytime and nighttime,” Gallo said. 

His remarks landed in the middle of a longer, unresolved debate about public safety resources in Oakland neighborhoods — particularly along commercial corridors like International Boulevard, where pedestrian foot traffic is heavy at all hours.

What This Means for Victims and Families

For the families of those killed and the survivors fighting for their lives at Highland Hospital, the legal road ahead is significant. When a driver — regardless of age — operates a vehicle at reckless speed through a crowded public area, California law provides multiple avenues for victims and their families to seek accountability.

The fact that witnesses observed the driver accelerating after the initial collision is critical. That detail, captured on surveillance video and corroborated by multiple eyewitnesses, speaks directly to the question of recklessness and intent — factors that will shape how charges are filed and how civil liability is assessed.

The victims here weren’t doing anything wrong. They were standing outside a neighborhood store, and the investigation is just beginning.

This story will be updated as new information becomes available.