Traffic collision leaves Pleasanton man dead Traffic collision leaves Pleasanton man dead (July 30, 2004)

Driver faces felony charges
by Teresa C. Brown

A Union City man was arraigned Monday in Hayward with a felony hit-and-run charge in connection with the traffic collision death of Pleasanton resident and police officer William L. Seuis.

Carlos Mares, driver of a tractor trailer rig, was not charged with vehicular manslaughter; that charge is still under investigation.

Seuis, a 15-year veteran on the Oakland Police force, died July 22 at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley from internal injuries he received from an afternoon motorcycle accident on I-238 in San Leandro allegedly involving Mares.

Police reported that Seuis, who was in uniform at the time, was driving his department-issued police motorcycle southbound on I-238 toward I-580. Mares, who was traveling in the same direction as the officer, allegedly changed lanes and hit Seuis.

Mares did not stop at the accident scene, and California Highway Patrol officers arrested him minutes later on I-580 near the Hacienda Drive overpass.

Police reported that Mares invoked his right not to talk to officers about the incident, and he was booked at Santa Rita County Jail.

Seuis is survived by his wife and two daughters, as well as his parents, a brother and sister, and extended family.

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