OAKLAND — A pedestrian killed Wednesday night when he was struck by a vehicle California Highway Patrol ground units had stopped pursuing was identified Friday as Marvin Boomer, a beloved teacher and mentor at Castlemont High School.
His death cast a pall over the East Oakland high school, located at 8601 MacArthur Blvd., which has its graduation scheduled for Friday afternoon at the Paramount Theater.
Boomer taught math and headed a Pathways program at the school, which is a career-themed and college preparatory program.
Boomer, who had a Ph. D. in philosophy, was described in a letter by Castlemont Principal Joseph Blasher as a “beloved and vital member of the Castlemont family. His warmth, wisdom and joyful spirit left a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues,” the letter said.
On his LinkedIn page, Boomer said his life “revolves around my passions” which he said were education, performing arts, youth and entrepreneurship.
The CHP on Thursday released more details of the pursuit, which actually began miles away in East Oakland.
The CHP said the vehicle that struck Boomer was driven by Eric Scott Hernandez-Garcia, 18, of Oakland, who was wanted by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for felony evading.
CHP officers tried to pull him over about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday near 102nd Avenue and International Boulevard, not far from the San Leandro border.
Hernandez-Garcia drove off in an Infiniti G35 with CHP officers in pursuit, but they called off the chase after 37 seconds, the CHP said in a news release. A CHP plane continued to observe the vehicle as it drove on a freeway and city streets for about 15 minutes.
The vehicle then pulled over to a curb in the 1800 block of Fifth Avenue near Lake Merritt. As the driver started to get out, the aircraft guided nearby CHP officers to the location.
As officers approached Hernandez-Garcia got back into the vehicle and drove off, with officers again in pursuit.
Within 30 seconds the vehicle crashed into a parked minivan at the intersection of Park Boulevard and East 21st Street. About 25 seconds after that crash, the CHP ground units once again terminated the pursuit, the agency said. The two occupants of the minvan suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital.
The Infiniti continued driving in what the CHP said was a “reckless and dangerous manner” with the aircraft still above.
The CHP said about 20 seconds later the Infiniti struck Boomer, a woman he was with and a fire hydrant at the intersection of 12th Avenue and East 21st Street. Boomer died at the scene and the woman was taken to a hospital with critical injuries.
Hernandez-Garcia fled from the Infiniti on foot but was quickly arrested by officers. He was taken to a hospital for injuries he sustained and was placed under arrest on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, felony hit-and-run and reckless evading, the CHP said. As of Friday morning, he had not been booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Oakland police are investigating the death of Boomer. The CHP is investigating the crash involving the minivan.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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