A hit-and-run and attempted carjacking terrified parents on the Berkeley school run Tuesday morning, according to witnesses and officials.
A heavy police response rushed to Emerson Elementary at 2800 Forest Ave., on the edge of the Claremont neighborhood, at around 8 a.m.
The Berkeley Police Department quickly apprehended a suspect who struck and injured three pedestrians before ditching a damaged BMW near the Emerson campus, according to police and school authorities.
Using a stolen car from Richmond, the driver deliberately hit a 30-year-old man who was walking his dog and a 46-year-old woman out for a jog on the sidewalk of Belrose Avenue, according to Berkeley police. The driver also intentionally hit a 78-year-old man riding his bike on Derby Avenue, police said. All victims were hospitalized and in stable condition on Tuesday night, police said
After abandoning the smashed-up BMW, the suspect tried to carjack two other vehicles for his getaway, then fled on foot to College Avenue, where Berkeley police arrested him. Authorities said he was a 26-year-old from Vallejo, but did not name him.
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“He didn’t get very far before the BPD caught him,” said Christine Aguilar, who saw the aftermath from her home near the school. “Everyone outside was from the school.”
Aguilar said that the suspect “scared the bejesus” out of a mother and her daughter when he tried to steal their car.
The trail of mayhem left five crime scenes for police to investigate.
The suspect has been booked into jail on numerous charges, including three counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted carjacking, resisting or obstructing an officer, DUI causing injury and vehicle theft.
Principal Jana Holmes texted parents that a car had crashed into the back of the school on Garber Street, and police had apprehended the suspect.
“School continues this morning and is in session,” she wrote.
With a helicopter circling and a raft of first responders on their block, Richard and Rosemary Muller said they hadn’t seen this type of activity in their 58 years living on Garber Street.
“Nothing like this,” Richard said. “We heard the helicopter first. It looked like it was circling our house.”
“It’s a very peaceful, dead-end street,” said Rosemary.