EL CERRITO — Murder and five other felony charges have been filed against the suspected driver of a burglary getaway truck involved in a fatal wrong-way crash in the MacArthur Maze on March 19, authorities said Thursday.
The suspected accomplice in the burglary was char ged in two of the crimes.
The alleged driver, Patrick Scheckells, 34, of Oakland, was charged with murder, driving the wrong way on a divided highway causing injury or death, driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, driving or taking a vehicle without consent, second degree commercial burglary and grand theft of personal property.
The suspected accomplice, Andre Alberty, 56, of San Francisco, was charged with second-degree burglary and grand theft of personal property.
The charges stem from a burglary that happened about 4:22 a.m. March 19 at Tobacco Outlet, 10170 San Pablo Ave.
Officers learned that what turned out to be a stolen pickup truck had rammed the front of the business to gain entry, the alleged burglars had fled in the truck with stolen items.
An El Cerrito officer responding to the burglary spotted the truck and began pursuing it.
The officer chased the suspects onto westbound Interstate 80 and followed them toward the Bay Bridge toll plaza. But after merging onto westbound I-580, the truck “abruptly changed direction on the freeway, driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-80, causing the pursuing officer to terminate the chase,” police said.
The truck continued on and collided with two westbound vehicles, causing the death of one of the drivers and injuries to the occupants of the other vehicle, authorities said. Officials identified the driver killed as Lee David Weiner, 57, of Lafayette.
Scheckells and Alberty were injured in the crash and were taken to a hospital where they were later placed under arrest by the California Highway Patrol. Scheckells remains hospitalized and Alberty was to be booked at the Contra Costa Detention Center, authorities said.