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County officials have identified one of two victims in Sunday morning’s fiery crash that closed a portion of the roadway.
The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office identified San Ramon resident Merhrdad Emami, 46, as the passenger in a silver BMW that was struck by a Nissan Maxima while headed southbound on Interstate 680 near the Crow Canyon Road exit.
The collision was reported just after 1:20 a.m. at the Crow Canyon Road off-ramp, according to the CHP. The female driver of the BMW was transported to the hospital with major injuries; her identity has not been released.
While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, CHP officials said the collision caused both cars to spin out of control. The Nissan spun into the construction area, striking a forklift on the drivers side before catching on fire with the driver still inside.
According to reports, the forklift stopped the Maxima and prevented at least four other Caltrans workers from being struck. The BMW also veered into the construction area and struck an unoccupied Ford F-150 truck.
The driver of the Nissan died in the accident and was severely burned. The Coroner’s Office is currently examining the victim’s dental records and is expect to make an identification by late Monday night, said Deputy Tim Biggs.
Construction sites normally have Highway Patrol officers on site as well as Caltrans supervisors, said CHP Officer Steve Creole. Creole said the collision was most likely due to a speed differential between the vehicles and not construction, as traffic had already been narrowed to one lane.
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Of course it was speed and most likely booze plus attitude of drivers. I’m pleased to hear no construction crew were injured…They are out there doing their job…their love ones do not need a call telling them their husband was just killed by some damn drunk and crazy driver.
Julia Pardini from Alamo
I am also glad no workers were hurt, but what about the poor people who died? You were not a witness so you cannot assume anything. I have to say, I get off work late at night, and drive from San Ramon up to Danville, and I cannot tell you how disorienting those lane changes are in the dark!! They have lights which reflect back in all different directions, and lots of equipment, and the first time I encountered one I came very close to an accident. It is just very hard to see and figure our where to go, and you don’t get a lot of warning. The first time I had such a close call I actually questioned myself, thinking, “had I been close to falling asleep at the wheel?”…..it felt that weird. The next 5 times I encountered them, I realized it wasn’t me, it is the way it is set up. Of course one has to slow waaay down, which I learned after my first experince. But if one comes upon them for the first time, at even a normal speed of 55-60 mph, I absolutely can see a major crash occuring before reaction time sets in. The lighting and the reflection is very very dangerous, and I knew it was just a matter of time before someone was hurt.
What we know for certain is that this is a tragedy for several families. I sometimes find nighttime driving on 680 disorienting as well with all that construction. Add fatigue to the equation and it’s surprising this doesn’t happen more often. Many young people have work hours that keep them out until very late, well past midnight. Consider restaurants and movie theaters.
This story breaks my heart and I hope some positive change can come from it somehow.