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Suspects lead Concord police on multi-county chase

A high-speed police chase that started when officers spotted a stolen vehicle in Concord Saturday night ended with a crash in Emeryville, a police lieutenant said early Sunday morning.

The pursuit started around 9:15 p.m. Saturday when Concord police officers spotted a 2003 Acura sedan with three occupants near Concord and Commerce avenues. The vehicle had no license plates and its headlights were off, Lt. Darrell Graham said.

Officers tried to stop the car, but the driver sped away and onto state Highway 242.

Police followed the car south on Highway 242 and off of the freeway in Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill, Graham said.

From there, multiple Concord police units trailed the suspects onto southbound interstate Highway 680.

The suspects then led police west on state Highway 24, racing along the freeway at speeds between 80 and 90 miles per hours, Graham said.

When the chase reached the Caldecott Tunnel, police turned the pursuit over to California Highway Patrol officers, who followed the suspects into Emeryville.

Graham said the chase ended when the suspects attempted to make a U-turn but instead crashed into a cinderblock wall near the intersection of 59th and Beaudry streets in Emeryville.

Officers arrested the Acura's driver, 25-year-old Robert Vella of Daly City and two passengers, San Francisco resident Milagro De Jesus Moraga, 20, and 29-year-old Adonis Hempel of Oakland, according to police.

Hempel was on parole for previous property crimes, Graham said.

All three were being held at the Concord police department.

No injuries were reported in connection with the high-speed chase and suspects' collision.

_{Sun, 27 May 2012 07:37:52 -0700}

Protesters remembered man who drowned as Alameda rescuers watched

Protesters flocked to Crown Beach in Alameda Saturday to the spot where Raymond Zack drowned a year ago as police and firefighters stood by.

The incident brought Alameda international scorn. But, first responders maintained they didn't have the proper training or equipment to rescue Zack.

The beach was blustery Saturday, far from last year's calm Memorial Day when the despondent 53-year-old man waded out to his neck at about noon.

Officers had known Zack from picking him up at the beach other times.

Last year, rescuers watched Zack wade into the water, then go face down, until a bystander went in and grabbed his body.

"It's unspeakable to me, what happened," said protester Liz Williams. "It's unspeakable, the flaccidness of the city's response."

Protesters planned to wade into the water as a group to mark the anniversary, just as they did after last year's incident.

An independent review of the situation found rescuers had a lack of training and equipment, plus poor communication.

Alex Stevens, a 30-year police veteran said he was unimpressed that Alameda has now restored rescue boats and procedures lost to budget cuts.

"Do you have to be trained to go and help somebody? No," Stevens said.

Alameda is being sued for wrongful death by Zack's brother and sister in Ohio, who were aware their sibling was troubled.

"(Zack's family) did offer support," said Jack Bollier, of the Cartwright law firm. "They did what they could, from where they lived. I'm not sure they had the means to come out here and make decisions for Mr. Zack."

Carol Gottstein, a retired physician, knew Zack from church and said his death has haunted her.

"Something has to be done to address the culture in our public safety department," Gottstein said. "When I saw him, what happened to him, I thought, there but by the grace of god, go me."

Protesters never made it into the water because the water was too rough and cold.

Many said they will be back Sunday evening, to throw flowers into the waves in memory of Zack.

Calls placed to the Alameda Fire Department were not returned.

_{Sat, 26 May 2012 22:40:05 -0700}

Caltrans says Dumbarton Bridge construction running on schedule

Caltrans said construction is running on schedule at the Dumbarton Bridge, which is closed during the long weekend for a seismic upgrade.

The bridge can handle about 19 inches of movement in an earthquake, but the work will nearly double that to 37 inches.

Caltrans showed KTVU Saturday night the spot where crews have cut the Dumbarton Bridge in two, making room for a new steel joint that could make a huge difference in the next big earthquake.

"So on this side of the bridge, that joint locks into place in the network of rebar and concrete," said Caltrans spokeswoman Effie Verducci. "On the other side of the joint, it's meant to expand and contract."

Officials said the cold windy weather won't interrupt the work they're doing. The only thing that could get in the way is rain, which would make it tough to do any welding, but they're not anticipating any problems.

Two miles away, in a makeshift control room, engineers watched a live feed of the construction and traffic conditions.

The bridge that connects the East Bay and the peninsula will be closed all weekend, but many drivers told KTVU they were finding another route.

"I'm in construction. I've been commuting over the bridge and I see the signs, so I know not to go that way," said Newark resident Mike Wall.

Caltrans said the $60 million project isn't expected to cost drivers any time once the holiday weekend is over.

"Caltrans is on schedule," Verducci said. "They completed everything they wanted to do last night and today."

Crews said they expect to have the bridge open by 5 a.m. Tuesday.

_{Sat, 26 May 2012 22:13:01 -0700}

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