Suspected burglary, police chase ends with 1 dead, 2 injured

A police chase following a suspected burglary in El Cerrito led to a fatal wrong-way crash with two major injuries on westbound Interstate 580 early Tuesday morning, according to authorities.

Two vehicles were hit by the pickup truck fleeing police after it veered from westbound Interstate 80 and headed eastbound onto the westbound connector ramp with I-580, heading the wrong direction, according to the California Highway Patrol. The pickup collided with two vehicles — a gray BMW sedan and a white utility van.

The driver of the BMW was killed, and the van driver suffered major injuries. The person driving the pickup truck also sustained major injuries. Neither car was carrying any passengers. The injured people were taken to the hospital, officials said.

The aftermath of the collision snarled morning traffic on I-580 toward the Bay Bridge. Authorities issued a Sigalert warning of extreme traffic congestion on I-580 starting at 5 a.m. and continuing until 8 a.m.

According to the El Cerrito Police Department, its officers initiated a chase after responding to a 4:22 a.m. report of a white pickup truck allegedly ramming the front entrance of Tobacco Outlet at 10180 San Pablo Ave. in a burglary.

Police attempted to pull over the pickup, but it fled onto westbound I-80 and officers pursued it, according to a police news release.

They called off the pursuit when the pickup began heading in the wrong direction.

The CHP is investigating the collision with El Cerrito police investigating the alleged burglary.