(KRON) – An Oakland man has been charged with murder after he allegedly drove his car the wrong way on I-580 and crashed into another car, killing the driver. A second man was also charged in connection with a burglary that occurred before the crash.
The Contra Costa County Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Patrick Sheckells, 35, was driving a stolen pickup truck the wrong way on I-580 on March 19 when he crashed head-on into another car. The driver, Lee David Weiner, was killed.
Police are asking for the public’s help after two women were murdered in Napa
The accident happened after a burglary and a police chase. El Cerrito police responded to a tobacco store around 4:20 a.m. after the store owner said his security camera showed two men driving a truck through the front of the store and stealing “large amounts” of tobacco products, the district attorney’s office said . .
The second suspect, 56-year-old Andre Lamar Alberty of Stockton, was charged in connection with this burglary.
ECPD officers spotted a truck matching the store owner’s description and pursued it. The district attorney’s office said officers ended their pursuit five minutes before the fatal crash into the Bay Bridge maze.
According to ECPD, the officer was following the suspects westbound on I-80 when Sheckells abruptly turned the wrong way onto I-580. A second driver was also seriously injured in the accident.
Alberty was charged with second-degree burglary and grand theft of personal property. He is in custody. Sheckells remains in hospital. He was accused of:
-
Murder
-
Wrong-way driving on a highway causing injury or death
-
Driving under the influence of a controlled substance causing injury
-
Driving or taking a vehicle without permission
-
Second-degree burglary
-
Grand theft of personal property
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit KRON4.
