Fremont Police Department: Traffic Injury Collision

Fremont CA

10 March, 2021

11:17 AM

Description

Press release from the Fremont Police Department: 03/09/2021 Traffic Investigators are investigating a major injury collision that occurred during a sideshow in south Fremont Saturday night. On Saturday March 6, 2021, at about 11:09 p.m., Fremont Police Dispatch received multiple 9-1-1 calls regarding a sideshow involving approximately 50-60 vehicles near the intersection of Fremont Blvd and Bayview Dr. One of the callers advised a Lexus was driving in circles (donuts) in the intersection with what appeared to be a passenger standing up through the open sunroof. Several officers were dispatched to the call. As officers were responding to the area, additional 9-1-1 calls were received reporting a collision. The initial investigation revealed a BMW and a VW were racing each other traveling northbound on Fremont Blvd. while the side show activity was occurring at the intersection. The BMW collided with the Lexus as it was doing donuts in the middle of the roadway. Upon police arrival officers learned an injured passenger who had been in the Lexus suffered injuries and had been taken to a regional trauma center by an unknown individual. Officers were notified by the trauma center and learned the passenger suffered major injuries and is expected to survive. The driver of the Lexus has not been located but investigators are following up on leads. The driver and passenger of the BMW remained at the scene and provided a full statement with admissions. Sideshows continue to be a major issue throughout the Bay Area. The Fremont Police Department has prioritized this issue and is working with Transportation Engineering to identify solutions to improve safety and make Fremont less attractive to car groups seeking open spaces to conduct illegal sideshow and racing activities. The Department is are also improving capacity to gain intelligence in advance and training patrol team members on safe response tactics. When possible, we have been able to identify vehicles involved in the sideshows through the use of technology, including video, and have recently seized several vehicles. At the regional level, we continue to work in partnership with surrounding agencies which include, the California Highway Patrol Hayward Office, Oakland Police Department, Newark Police Department, and Union City Police Department. "Over the last year, we have experienced a growing trend in illegal sideshow activity moving closer to our neighborhoods. We remain committed to combatting this activity, but the large numbers of participants quickly overwhelm our smaller and mid-size police agencies. We have been very successful in utilizing video evidence to identify participants and this case is another example of our officer's dedication to this problem. This is not a problem exclusive to Fremont and impacting the trend is going to require a regional approach. We had a very good meeting last month with dozens of agencies from across the Bay Area and we all remain committed to working together," stated Chief Kimberly Petersen. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to please contact Fremont Police Traffic Investigator Andrew Khoeler at (510) 790-6760. This press release was produced by the Fremont Police Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.