Murder, other charges filed against man suspected of causing fatal wrong-way crash

Driver allegedly was trying to elude the CHP when the collision happened early Monday

OAKLAND >> Murder and other charges have been filed against an ex- convict suspected of causing a fatal wrong-way crash Monday morning on Interstate 580 while he was trying to elude California Highway Patrol officers, according to authorities and court documents.

In addition to murder, Deville Daggs, 30, of Oakland is charged with felony evading an officer against traffic and an infraction of speeding greater than 100 mph. He was being held without bail.

Killed in the head- on collision was 52-year- old Antwain L. Ramsey Sr. Authorities did not have an address for him.

According to authorities and court documents, CHP officers saw a Chevrolet Suburban SUV without license plates driving at high speed in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 580 west of Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland about 12:30 a.m. Monday.

A CHP officer estimated the initial speed at 75 mph, and when officers tried to make an enforcement stop of the SUV it accelerated to 100 mph before exiting the freeway at MacArthur Boulevard, the documents say. The SUV continued on city streets at high speed before stalling out at MacArthur Boulevard and High Street, the documents say.

W hen a CHP of ficer tried to get the driver, later identified as Daggs, out of the vehicle at gunpoint, the SUV began driving toward the officer, who had to jump out of the way to escape injury, the documents say.

CHP officers began pursuing the SUV again on city streets until it got back on I- 580 at Mac-Arthur Boulevard, going westbound in the eastbound lanes, and officers ended the pursuit of the vehicle.

A few moments later, the SUV collided headon in the eastbound lanes of I- 580 west of 35th Avenue with a Honda Odyssey minivan driven by Ramsey, who was killed instantly, authorities said.

Daggs fled the SUV but was captured in a nearby residential neighborhood. He was treated for moderate injuries at a hospital before being booked. A female passenger in the SUV suffered major injuries. Her name and relationship to Daggs have not been released by authorities, who said she still is recovering.

According to court documents, Daggs has three prior felony convictions. One was in October 2016 in Santa Clara County for possession for sale of a controlled substance that he went to prison for. The other two were in Alameda County, one in January 2019 for vehicle theft and the other in January 2014 for grand theft. He received probation in those convictions.