 |
| Si Han is seen in this undated image with her mother in Yosemite National Park. (Courtesy of ABC7 News) |
OAKLAND, CA — A Bay Bridge toll collector was killed and the driver of a truck arrested Saturday after his box truck slammed into a line of vehicles, then crashed into the toll plaza, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The multi-vehicle wreck caused massive traffic delays throughout the day.
Si Si Han is seen in this undated image with her mother in Yosemite National Park. (Courtesy of ABC7 News) Daniel Berk, 32, of Foster City, who was ejected and seriously injured from the crash, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and manslaughter, according to the CHP.
A statement by Gov. Jerry Brown identified the toll taker as Si Si Han, 46. Her city of residence was not released, but a public records search indicated that she lived in San Lorenzo.
Han was a California Department of Transportation employee for more than a decade and is survived by her husband, Ryan, and their 10-year-old daughter, Ashly, according to the governor’s statement.
Berk and his passenger were thrown from the truck when the box truck from Monarch Truck Rentals struck and demolished the No. 14 toll booth. Berk suffered serious injuries; the extent of the passenger’s injuries was not immediately known, CHP Officer Vu Williams said. The two people from the truck and four people from other vehicles were taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland, he said.
“Investigators were able to determine there were signs of impairment,” Williams said of the driver. “They obtained a warrant for a blood draw.”
The wreck occurred in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 at the toll plaza about 5:15 a.m. and resulted in several other, non-life-threatening injuries, Williams said. The truck, described as a medium-sized rental box truck, slammed into the back of at least one line of vehicles waiting at the toll plaza, causing a chain reaction, Williams said. The truck then continued toward the toll plaza and destroyed the booth. Six vehicles, including the truck, were involved in the wreck.
“Based on the damage, it wasn’t a low-speed collision,” Williams said.
Immediately after the crash, toll lanes 14 to 17 were blocked, the CHP said. Ultimately, the toll plaza’s 10 rightmost lanes — six cash/FasTrak lanes, two FasTrak lanes and two bus lanes — were closed, Williams said. In addition, access from northbound Interstate 880 to the bridge was limited. The lanes were eventually opened late Saturday, according to the CHP.
The cause of the wreck was under investigation. As of midday, officers had not spoken to the driver of the truck, Williams said.
Despite a number of recent attacks using box trucks to strike pedestrians, authorities do not believe this was an intentional act, Williams said. “We haven’t developed any indication of that.”
A receptionist at Monarch said she was not allowed to talk to the media about the incident and took a message for her supervisor.
Berk’s Facebook page claimed that he was a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 134 out of Santa Clara County. He posted numerous concert and music jobs he worked.
Capitol Corridor bus service from Emeryville to San Francisco was also suspended because of the crash, the agency said on Twitter.
Gov. Brown said flags at the Capitol will be flown at half-staff in Han’s honor.
======================
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter Saturday after crashing a rented box truck into a Bay Bridge tollbooth, killing the attendant inside, the California Highway Patrol said.
The driver was identified as Daniel Berk, 32, of Foster City. He was badly hurt in the crash and was being treated at Highland Hospital in Oakland, along with a passenger and occupants of five cars that were hit before the truck demolished a tollbooth on the north side of the plaza at 5:11 a.m.
The tollbooth attendant, 46-year-old Caltrans employee Si Si Han, was killed. Berk and his passenger were ejected as the truck was split apart, and debris was strewn across the north side of the toll plaza.
CHP Officer Vu Williams said the truck was filled with what he described as lighting or sound equipment. After hitting the five other vehicles, it plowed through the barrier in front of Lane 15 and hit the tollbooth.
The damage was substantial. “I’ve never seen this,” Williams said. “I’ve seen them damage the booth before. Never to this extent.” Williams said that this is the first fatality involving a toll plaza worker in his nine years with the CHP.
He said he did not have an estimate of how fast the truck was driving when the collision occurred. But “it wasn’t slow speed,” Williams said.
The CHP did not immediately say whether the substance Berk was suspected of using was alcohol or drugs.
Berk, according to LinkedIn, works as a stage tech engineer. On Facebook, he lists himself as a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 16 in San Francisco.
A person who answered a phone that belongs to a relative of Berk’s said, “I’m sorry, we’re not going to be giving any comment at this time.”
The truck had been rented from Monarch Truck Center in San Jose, said Steve Russler, an employee with the company. He declined to give any other information.
Gov. Jerry Brown released a statement saying he and his wife, Anne Gust Brown, “are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Caltrans toll collector Si Si Han, who died today while serving the traveling public. On behalf of all Californians, we extend our condolences to her family, co-workers and friends.”
Han worked as a Caltrans toll taker for a decade, said agency spokesman Bob Haus. She is survived by her husband, Ryan Saw, and a 10-year-old daughter, Ashly.
Six toll lanes heading westbound — Nos. 12 through 17 — and the northern FasTrak and bus lanes were closed into the evening. The northbound Interstate 880 connector to westbound Interstate 80 was also shut down. All lanes were reopened by Saturday night, said Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus. By Monday morning, officials hoped to reopen three of the four damaged tollbooths, but the remaining booth that was completely wiped out by the crash will take much longer to repair, Haus said.