Off-Duty California EMT Killed While Assisting Crash Victim
A 43-year-old off-duty first-responder and Berkeley resident was killed early today when he was struck by a car and projected over a freeway railing after he stopped to help at the scene of an earlier accident.
The victim was identified by the California Highway Patrol as Scott Lofgren, who either was a paramedic or emergency medical technician.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Lofgren had been drinking but was not drunk, police said.
The earlier accident occurred around 2:50 a.m. when Cassady Toles, 29, of San Pablo, traveling east on Interstate 80 near Gilman Street in a 1999 BMW, drove off of the roadway and collided with the railing, according to the CHP. The BMW came to a rest on the right shoulder, facing traffic.
About 3 a.m., Lofgren, driving a 1995 Ford pickup truck, parked in front of the BMW and checked out Toles, who said he was OK, police said. Lofgren then placed flares along the edge of the freeway, walking in the direction opposite to traffic.
Danny Jackson Jr., 28, of Union City, driving a 1994 Infiniti, saw the two vehicles on the shoulder and braked, police said. The Infiniti hydroplaned and Jackson lost control. The Infiniti struck Lofgren, resulting in his death. The Infiniti then hit the BMW, sending it crashing into the Ford pickup. The three vehicles slid along the shoulder, with the Infiniti and the BMW ending up sideways in the right lane.
Toles complained of minor pain and told investigators that he would seek medical attention on his own.
Jackson was uninjured. He was not legally impaired and was not arrested, according to the CHP.
It was raining when the accident occurred, according to the CHP.
News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.
