A late-night crash at International Boulevard and 85th Avenue in Oakland left three pedestrians dead and three others injured, according to police. Investigators say a speeding vehicle traveling north on 85th Avenue attempted a westbound turn onto International Boulevard and struck multiple people in the intersection. The injured pedestrians were taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. The teenage driver allegedly tried to flee but was arrested after the crash and later booked on unspecified charges. Oakland police are continuing to investigate the circumstances and contributing factors in the collision.
Accident News Report
Three pedestrians were killed and three others were injured late Saturday night when a speeding vehicle struck a group of people at an Oakland intersection, authorities said.
According to the Oakland Police Department, the collision occurred around 11:15 p.m. on May 16 at the intersection of International Boulevard and 85th Avenue. Investigators determined that a driver was traveling north on 85th Avenue at a high rate of speed when the vehicle attempted to turn west onto International Boulevard and hit multiple pedestrians.
Three of the pedestrians died as a result of their injuries. Three additional pedestrians were transported to a hospital with unspecified injuries.
Police said the driver, described as a teenager, tried to flee the scene but was taken into custody. The teen driver was taken to a hospital and later booked on unspecified charges.
The Oakland Police Department is continuing to investigate the crash to determine all factors that led to the collision.
Important Details
Around 11:15 p.m. on May 16
Intersection of International Boulevard and 85th Avenue, Oakland, California
Vehicle turning at high speed struck multiple pedestrians in a crosswalk/intersection area
Three pedestrians killed, three additional pedestrians hospitalized with unspecified injuries
Involved driver is a teenager who allegedly attempted to flee but was arrested and later booked on unspecified charges
Oakland Police Department responded and is leading the investigation
Speed and turning movement under investigation; full cause not yet determined
What California law says after a pedestrian accident
Who may bring a wrongful death claim in California
When a collision results in death, California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim. The categories are defined by statute and generally include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, where there is no surviving spouse or issue, others who would be entitled to the property of the person who died. Certain dependents, including a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents who were financially dependent, may also qualify.
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, including financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the companionship, guidance, and society the person provided.
A separate claim, called a survival action, covers losses the person themselves sustained before death, such as medical expenses and lost earnings. California law changed here. For survival actions filed on or after January 1, 2026, damages for the decedent’s own pain, suffering, or disfigurement are no longer recoverable. Cases filed before that date are not affected, and different rules can apply in elder abuse matters.
Eligibility depends on family circumstances, filing deadlines are strict, and the damages available depend in part on when a case is filed.
Right of way rules for people walking and cycling
California drivers must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, and a crosswalk exists at most intersections whether or not it is painted. Drivers approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk must also slow down or take other care for that person’s safety. Pedestrians in turn must not leave a curb so suddenly that a driver cannot yield.
Since the 2023 change commonly called the Freedom to Walk Act, an officer generally may not stop a pedestrian for crossing outside a crosswalk unless there is an immediate danger of a collision. That change limits enforcement; it does not remove the pedestrian’s duty to use care, and in a civil case that duty still counts when fault is divided.
A related rule addresses visibility. Parking is prohibited within twenty feet of the approach side of any crosswalk, marked or unmarked, and within fifteen feet where a curb extension is present. A vehicle parked in that zone can hide a person stepping into the roadway from an approaching driver, and since January 2025 the restriction is enforceable whether or not the curb is painted.
For bicycles, the Three Feet for Safety Act requires a driver passing a cyclist travelling in the same direction to leave at least three feet of clearance, and where another lane in the same direction is available and it is practicable and lawful, to change lanes before passing. Where three feet is not possible, the driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and pass only when it would not endanger the cyclist.
Being outside a crosswalk, or not wearing a helmet, does not by itself establish that a pedestrian or cyclist was legally at fault. Under California’s comparative fault rule, those facts are weighed alongside everything else that happened.
Information for Families After a Fatal Collision
Losing a family member in a collision raises urgent legal questions, often long before anyone feels ready to ask them. These guides set out the basics, with no obligation attached.
- California wrongful death attorney: who may file, the deadlines that apply, and what a claim covers
- Pedestrian and vehicle accident claims: how fault is determined when a person on foot is struck
- All practice areas
Injured in This Accident? Get Trusted Legal Guidance
After an accident, the right information can make a meaningful difference. If you or a loved one was hurt, The Law Offices of Burg and Brock, Inc. can help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, and determine whether legal action may be available.
Speak with our legal team today and get clear guidance before making important decisions.