A man who prosecutors say killed two people in a hit-and-run crash while speeding away from Oakland police last week has been charged with murder.

Ramon Sanchez, 37, was still being held Monday in the Santa Rita Jail in connection with the fatal crash, which happened around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday in East Oakland. He faces numerous other charges, including causing injury while evading an officer and leaving the scene of an accident.

Investigators say it happened as Sanchez tried to flee Oakland police, who had just pulled him over on an outstanding warrant, according to court documents. It was unclear what he was wanted for at the time.

Sanchez backed into a police cruiser and then sped down 76th Avenue at speeds of 70 to 90 mph, court documents say. Oakland police said they did not pursue him, and he made it less than a quarter mile before prosecutors say he ran a stop sign at 76th Avenue and Rudsdale Street — slamming into another vehicle, according to court documents.

Two people — identified in court documents as Jacqueline Elliott and Cleveland Allen — were killed in the collision. Another person was injured, but was expected to survive.

Elliott and Allen represent the 24th and 25th people to die in homicides investigated by Oakland police this year. A string of shootings in recent days has since pushed that figure to 28. The California Highway Patrol has investigated an additional two freeway killings this year in Oakland.

Investigators claim Sanchez tried running away after the crash, but officers chased him down.

Sanchez was on probation at the time of the crash after a second-degree burglary conviction in March 2020, court documents showed. He also had two prior convictions for firearms-related charges more than 15 years ago.

Source: www.mercurynews.com