An Alameda County sheriff’s deputy was injured early Sunday morning when a suspected drunken driver ran a red light in Oakland and slammed into the deputy’s vehicle, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy’s SUV was hit around 4:30 a.m. at the intersection of 16th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in the San Antonio neighborhood, the sheriff’s office reported. He was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released, according to Lt. Ray Kelly, a sheriff’s spokesman.
Two people were in the vehicle that hit the deputy’s SUV, and both were also treated and released from a hospital. The driver was then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Kelly said.
4:30am, 16th Ave @ Foothill in Oakland, A drunk driver ran a red light at a high rate of speed and crashed into our patrol deputy. Our deputy was transported to the hospital with injuries but will recover. The drunk driver was arrested. We are thankful nobody died. pic.twitter.com/e5UKQbT2iJ
— Alameda County Sheriff (@ACSOSheriffs) May 8, 2022
Pictures tweeted by the sheriff’s office showed the front end of the deputy’s vehicle smashed in. The other vehicle appeared to come to a rest on its side on the lawn of Foothill Missionary Baptist Church.
Kelly said the crash underscores the dangers of drunk driving, adding that he’s thankful the crash wasn’t even more serious.
“It’s a very preventable crime, and it’s one of the most selfish crimes that people commit when they decide to get behind the wheel when they’ve been drinking,” Kelly said.
Source: www.mercurynews.com