Truck driver in hospital with ‘major’ injuries after deadly crash
The driver of a rented box truck who crashed into a Bay Bridge tollbooth, killing the attendant, remained in the hospital Sunday in serious condition, authorities said.
Daniel Berk, 32, of Foster City was being treated at Highland Hospital in Oakland after ramming into a tollbooth on the north side of the plaza at 5:11 a.m. on Saturday and wasn’t expected to be released for about a week, said Officer Matthew Hamer, a CHP spokesman.
A passenger in the truck, who was ejected as the vehicle split apart, and the occupants of five other cars that were hit have all been released from the hospital, Hamer added.
Berk, who is facing charges of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter, suffered “major” injuries, Hamer said.
A relative of Berk’s, who identified herself as his sister on Facebook, said he was in surgery shortly after the crash. His family members
to comment.
Si Si Han, a 46-year-old Caltrans employee, was killed in the collision. She worked as a toll collector for nearly a decade, said agency spokesman Bob Haus.
Han is survived by her husband, Ryan Saw, and 10-yearold daughter, Ashly.
Gov. Jerry Brown released a statement that he and his wife, Anne Gust Brown, “are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Caltrans toll collector Si Si Han, who died (Saturday) while serving the traveling public. On behalf of all Californians, we extend our condolences to her family, co-workers and friends.”
According to LinkedIn, Berk works as a stage engineer. On Facebook, he lists himself as a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 16 in San Francisco.
A co-worker, Kenny McCain, said Berk worked in the closedeclined knit production industry in the Bay Area. McCain heard from mutual friends that Berk had been driving between gigs at the time of the crash.
“I’ve never seen him drink, so that was a little strange to me,” McCain said. “I thought he must’ve fallen asleep at the wheel. The whole thing was a shock to me.”
The truck was filled with lighting and sound equipment at the time of the collision, said CHP Officer Vu Williams.
Berk was a former student at the College of San Mateo, said Richard Rojo, a college spokesman.
He took classes over the course of several years and stopped in spring 2015, Rojo added.
Berk did not earn a degree from the college.
The truck had been rented from Monarch Truck Center in San Jose, said Steve Russler, an employee with the company.
Four tollbooths and lanes 13 through 16 remained closed, posing a potential slowdown for morning commuters on Monday, Haus said.
Han’s booth, from Lane 14, “is completely wiped out and has to be completely rebuilt,” Haus said.
There is no estimated time for reopening the lanes that lead up to the booths.
“With four booths out of commission ... it’s going to have an adverse effect on traffic,” Haus said.
No additional information on the crash, including the speed that Berk was driving and what substance he was suspected of using, was released Sunday.