Car Crashes, Fatality Under Investigation
The CHP is investigating two separate car crashes in Castro Valley last Monday (April 29), one of which resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy from San Leandro.
The fatality happened on Palomares Road near mile marker 4.3 at approximately 4:20 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Jennifer Pabst. The CHP and Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) responded to a call about a black Honda Accord traveling in the northbound direction that veered off the roadway and crashed into a power pole. Investigators say the car overturned and landed upside-down at the base of a tree. First responders quickly used special tools to rip open the car and remove two people inside.
The passenger, 15-year-old Jayden Herr of San Leandro, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Jayden’s brother, 18-year-old William Herr, was identified as the driver and transported to a local hospital with major injuries.
Officer Pabst said alcohol or drugs are not considered to be a factor in the collision, but the incident is under felony investigation.
Engulfed in Flames
Hours earlier, on Redwood Road, County Fire crews with Engine 26 responded to a car on fire near the Redwood Canyon Golf Course entrance. No injuries were reported.
ACFD video shows a 4-door vehicle engulfed in flames in the middle of the street as firefighters douse the blaze with water. The call came in before midnight, and ACFD posted the video around 12:14.
“The vehicle fire on Redwood Road was an abandoned stolen vehicle,” Officer Pabst said. “Once the fire department extinguished the fire, the vehicle was towed from the roadway.”
Officer Pabst did not say whether the driver was on site when firefighters arrived or what had happened to the driver.
Anyone with information on either the car crash on Palomares Road or the car on fire on Redwood Road is urged to call the CHP Hayward Area Office at (510) 489-1500.