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A driver was killed after their car hit a large tree off an Interstate 680 offramp at Bernal Avenue and burst into flames on Sunday evening in Pleasanton, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The identity of the decedent remains unknown due to the extent of the burn injuries and lack of personal identification inside the vehicle, according to CHP-Dublin Officer Kevin Bjonerud.
The deadly crash unfolded just before 6:30 p.m. Sunday, although initial calls to 911 were reporting a brush fire along the southbound I-680 offramp at Bernal Avenue, Bjonerud said. Subsequent reports to the CHP soon said that a vehicle was involved in the fire.
The initial investigation indicated that a Mercedes sedan traveling southbound on the freeway attempted to take the Bernal exit but failed to negotiate the sharp right turn for unknown reasons, staying roughly straight, going down an embankment and striking a large tree head-on, according to Bjonerud.
The crash sparked flames that ignited the vehicle and surrounding vegetation. The driver, who was the sole occupant and was trapped inside the vehicle, succumbed to their injuries at the scene, according to Bjonerud.
The CHP continues to investigate why the Mercedes went off the roadway, with Bjonerud saying there was no physical evidence at the scene to show the cause and there were no eyewitnesses to the actual crash. DUI is not suspected at this point.
Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department crews put out the fire along the offramp, according to the officer. The ramp was closed for about two hours on Sunday evening for the investigation and cleanup onsite.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash can contact the CHP-Dublin office at 925-828-0466.
