Politics & Government
Coroner IDs Victim of 580-Park Blvd. New Year's Day Crash
The accident occurred on the westbound Park Boulevard on-ramp to Interstate Highway 580.
By Bay City News Service
An Oakland minister died in a New Year's Day crash on westbound Interstate Highway 580 in Oakland.
The Alameda County coroner's bureau identified Bobbie Jean Baker, 49, as the victim in a crash reported at 2:36 a.m. west of Park Boulevard.
When officers arrived at the crash, a Ford Expedition was on its roof on the Park Boulevard on-ramp to westbound I-580, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Daniel Hill.
Baker was trapped in the front passenger seat, while the driver — a 42-year-old Hercules man — was able to exit the car and was not seriously injured, Hill said.
Baker was extricated from the car but she succumbed to her injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead, Hill said.
The driver said that another car had struck him and caused him to loose control before fleeing. However investigators were not able to substantiate his claims that there was another vehicle involved, Hill said.
Hill said there were no witness accounts or evidence at the scene indicating another car was involved.
Hill was tested for DUI and determined to not be intoxicated, Hill said.
The on-ramp to westbound I-580 was closed for more than two hours after the crash.
Baker has since been identified as a minister in Oakland. She was part of the transgender religious community known as the "transfaith" community.
A ceremony will be held in Baker's honor Saturday at 1 p.m. with the Bishop Yvette Flunder from San Francisco's City of Refuge United Church of Christ officiating.
The ceremony, called a "homegoing," will be held at the First Congregational Oakland United Church of Christ, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland.
Copyright © 2014 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Related article:
"Car Overturns on I-580 On-Ramp, One Dead"
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