A sideshow in Crockett early Saturday morning ended in tragedy when a spectator apparently fell to their death from a freeway overpass.
The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Merchant Street, just off Interstate 80 and the Carquinez Bridge. According to witnesses, a group of young people had been trying to get a better view of the cars spinning donuts in the intersection by jumping across a gap between freeway ramps — an off-ramp bridge, the other an on-ramp.
Drone footage, filmed by neighbor Joe Pallotta IV, showed dozens of people gathered at the overpass gap soon after, shining phone flashlights through the gap. A short time after the cars cleared out, California Highway Patrol officers found a body 40 to 60 feet below the ramps.
“It’s just an unfortunate situation,” said neighbor Vince Gorden, who called 911 when the sideshow woke him up. “They come here. They think that everything’s going to be OK and it’s a great time, but it’s pretty dangerous.”
Gorden believed one of those jumps went wrong, leading to the fatal fall.
“They bunny hopped from one side of the freeway over to this side so they can get over and a closer view,” said Gorden,
Gorden estimated there were about 150 cars and more than 200 people at the sideshow. He described the scene as chaotic.
“It’s over the top loud, it’s crazy,” he said. “As they’re spinning (donuts Saturday morning), the guy set off fireworks in the middle of it. It’s nuts.”
The CHP said investigators were working to determine exactly how the fall occurred and whether foul play was involved. A few witnesses stayed behind to speak with officers.
Gorden said sideshows have been a recurring problem at the intersection for at least six years. He has previously asked Contra Costa County to consider installing a roundabout or other deterrents to prevent such gatherings.
“Hopefully, kids start thinking before they do this sort of thing,” he said.
Authorities said the victim’s identity will be released after their family is notified.
Da Lin is an award-winning journalist at KPIX 5 News. He joined KPIX 5 in 2012, but has been reporting the news in the Bay Area since 2007. Da grew up in Oakland, and before his return to the Bay Area, he spent five years covering the news at three other television stations in Texas, Southern and Central California. He also spent five years reporting at KRON 4.
San Francisco is one step closer to approving new penalties for people who participate in sideshows.
The legislation was announced in August by Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Matt Dorsey, and on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved the new laws — There will still be a final vote on Oct. 1.
Under the new penalties, it will be illegal to participate in promoting a sideshow, assembling for a sideshow, blocking or obstructing streets to set up for a sideshow, and impeding police from stopping a sideshow.
One of the new penalties would also see cars seized during a sideshow possibly being permanently seized.
A car seized during a sideshow could be impounded for more than 30 days if the district attorney is filing charges, and it could be permanently seized if the person is convicted.
All charges would be misdemeanors as it’s the highest penalty currently allowed by state law.
Another issue the new laws aim to tackle is the large groups of dirt bikers who are riding throughout the city.
Molly Tello said almost every weekend a group of sometimes more than 100 people on dirt bikes take over her neighborhood, speeding down streets and blowing through traffic lights.
“Doing acrobatics on their bikes and looking like they might fall off and kill themselves, and they’re just going past the house,” said Tello.
Tello said it’s gotten so bad on the Embarcadero that even locals know when and where the bikers meet up.
“We saw them congregating down in front of the Dolphin Club, and it’s something that police seem like they should be aware of,” said Tello.
Still some locals like Juliet Mariniello said they’re not too sure a new law will actually change anything.
“I think it just moves from one street to another most of the time. Like I’ve seen it in Oakland where they tried to outlaw street shows whatever, sideshows, whatever they call them, and they move to another corner. They move down a block so. I hope it works,” said Mariniello.
Tello said she too is nervous but hopeful about this legislation. She hopes it could help police stop the sideshows before they even begin.
“The people who are actually participating in them on the bikes that need to be stopped before they get started,” said Tello.
Police said they are using technology like drones and license plate readers to try and disrupt sideshows.
Jose Fabian is a web producer for CBS Bay Area where he reports on local crime, politics and breaking news. He studied political science and journalism at Sacramento State and was born and raised in Northern California.
A group of neighbors in Oakland got so fed up with the sideshow activity happening in front of their homes that they took matters into their own hands — by building barricades out of tires and even installing their own speed bumps.
People who live in the area said the streets themselves tell the story of what’s wrong, dozens and dozens of tire tracks and skid marks cover the intersections on East 21st Street. And according to the neighbors, the city wasn’t doing enough to keep them safe.
“It’s terrible. So bad,” said Faustina Mendoza.
She lives just a couple of houses down from this intersection at East 21st Street and 19th Avenue in the San Antonio neighborhood of Oakland.
She said cars routinely run the stop sign and speed up and down the street. One time a car narrowly missed her daughter as she was in the crosswalk.
“This one guy comes and runs over, and she runs, and if she didn’t run maybe they,” she said, stopping as she imagines the worst.
That’s why a few weeks ago neighbors got together to put massive tires filled with dirt and concrete into the median of East 21st Street. It’s a homemade form of DIY traffic calming, and people in the area said it worked. It stopped the sideshow activity and much of the speeding.
But after an accident when a car hit one of the tires and flipped on its side, the city said it had to go.
In a statement from Josh Rowan, the director of Oakland’s Department of Transportation, he said, “The community is fed up (and justifiably so) with the sideshows in their community. The community was upset that the city removed their self-installed traffic calming. I directed the removal due to the risk that it created to the traveling public.”
There are piles of tires, all that’s left of the neighborhood-made traffic calming devices, still sitting along the sidewalk.
City leaders met with neighbors on Monday night to talk about adding city-sanctioned speed bumps or traffic circles, but some people said they’re tired of waiting for the city to act.
“That’s what Oakland used to do. We took matters into our own hands. We made sure our communities and our youth was protected so I don’t have any issues with the community stepping up like they should be doing,” said Kariah Scott, a native of Oakland.
“It’s bad because if we call the police they say they can’t do anything,” said Mendoza.
The neighbors also installed speed bumps, bolting them into the pavement. Rowan said because they don’t cause the same safety concerns as the tire barricades, he’s inclined to let them stay.
Katie Nielsen is an award-winning reporter who has spent more than 10 years sharing people’s stories. She joined KPIX in the summer of 2017, and just a few months later, found herself covering the Wine Country Wildfires.
Police in Oakland on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of five individuals after traffic stops in connection with weekend sideshow activity that happened on both sides of the bay.
At around midnight, officers responded to the area of Grand Avenue and Lake Park Avenue after reports of a large sideshow. Police observed approximately 300 vehicles and 200 spectators engaged in illegal activity, with cars doing donuts and executing stunts in front of the Grand Lake Theater.
As additional officers arrived on scene, the crowd moved to the area of 5th Street and Adeline Street. Fireworks were set off by spectators at both locations. Afterwards, the crowd dispersed to other parts of Oakland before heading to nearby cities. More sideshow activity was later reported in San Francisco along the Embarcadero and in the Mission District.
Police said officers in OPD’s ARGUS helicopter were able to follow the crowd throughout the city. Working with officers on the ground, police conducted seven traffic stops. Those stops led to the arrest of five individuals, the recovery of three firearms, and the impounding and towing of three vehicles.
The release and social media posts about the incident included photos of firearms that were seized and one of the vehicles towed.
Over the weekend, Oakland experienced multiple illegal sideshows. Roughly, 300 vehicles & 200 spectators took part in the unlawful activity.
— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) June 11, 2024
The release said Oakland police are following up to identify additional vehicles that took part in the sideshows. Once vehicles are identified, investigators may go to the homes where the vehicles are registered and tow those vehicles.
While Oakland did not go public with the arrests in connection with the sideshows until Tuesday, the department had greater success with their enforcement than San Francisco police. On Monday, SFPD Chief William Scott said officers were “working to hold people accountable” in a social media video released by the department.
While he said the investigations “are far from over,” as of Monday police had made no arrests in the incidents.
Dave Pehling is website managing editor for CBS Bay Area. He started his journalism career doing freelance writing about music in the late 1990s, eventually working as a web writer, editor and producer for KTVU.com in 2003. He began his role with CBS Bay Area in 2015.
Sacramento residents are frustrated and concerned after sideshows in at least five different parts of the city happened overnight on Sunday.Tire marks could still be seen Monday morning on Meadowview Road and Amherst Street, 5th and X streets, Norwood and Bell avenues, Northgate Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue, and W El Camino Avenue and Seamist Drive.Sacramento police said around 200 vehicles were involved.The police department handed out seven citations, had four vehicles towed and arrested two people following a pursuit. They’re facing reckless driving and sideshow-related charges.The sideshows caused concern and frustration among many residents living in those areas.James French has been living along Northgate Boulevard for more than 20 years. He told KCRA 3 that over the last two to three years, sideshows have been happening once or twice a month.”It’s very scary – nerve-wracking really because you hear this constant sound,” French said. ” long enough for the police to find out where they are at and to come out, but they don’t. They just kind of ignore this area sometimes.”Another resident told KCRA 3 that in August 2023, six bullets hit her home during one of the sideshows. Sacramento police told KCRA they didn’t have calls associated with the incident. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento residents are frustrated and concerned after sideshows in at least five different parts of the city happened overnight on Sunday.
Tire marks could still be seen Monday morning on Meadowview Road and Amherst Street, 5th and X streets, Norwood and Bell avenues, Northgate Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue, and W El Camino Avenue and Seamist Drive.
Sacramento police said around 200 vehicles were involved.
The police department handed out seven citations, had four vehicles towed and arrested two people following a pursuit. They’re facing reckless driving and sideshow-related charges.
The sideshows caused concern and frustration among many residents living in those areas.
James French has been living along Northgate Boulevard for more than 20 years. He told KCRA 3 that over the last two to three years, sideshows have been happening once or twice a month.
“It’s very scary – nerve-wracking really because you hear this constant sound,” French said. “[Sideshows last] long enough for the police to find out where they are at and to come out, but they don’t. They just kind of ignore this area sometimes.”
Another resident told KCRA 3 that in August 2023, six bullets hit her home during one of the sideshows. Sacramento police told KCRA they didn’t have calls associated with the incident.
(FOX40.COM) — Sideshows are a growing concern in California and local law enforcement agencies are attempting to put an end to them.
Sideshows originated around the 1980s as events where people did car stunts in vacant lots and roadways in front of several spectators. The social gatherings were once considered entertainment but have since escalated to dangerous and sometimes deadly occurrences.
Within recent years, property damage, injuries, and deaths have been reported which has gained the attention of law enforcement.
Several government, police, and sheriff’s agencies in California have sought ways to put an end to them. Some Sacramento City Council members proposed new legislation to maximize fines and penalties for sideshows -such as impounding vehicles for a minimum of 30 days.
In early 2024, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s office took sideshow penalties even further by executing a mass towing of nearly 90 vehicles accused of participating in them, and not releasing them until each case was heard by a judge in court.
Multiple sideshows were reported in Oakland early Sunday morning in different parts of town.
According to an Oakland Police Department press statement, the sideshows took place at around 2 a.m. near Claremont and College avenues, Alcatraz and Telegraph avenues, the 1200 block of Derby Avenue and the 700 block of Mandela Parkway.
Some cars were reportedly set on fire.
“Gunshots were reported at many of the illegal sideshow locations,” the OPD said in a statement. “As additional officers arrived on the scene, vehicles and spectators dispersed the area.”
This news organization asked OPD how many people were in the crowds, if anyone was injured, and if any arrests have been made, but has not yet received a response.
The Oakland City Council passed an ordinance last year making it illegal to “organize, facilitate or promote” sideshows.
Those found guilty of violating the ordinance could face misdemeanor charges and civil penalties including jailtime of six months or fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, with increasing penalties for repeat offenders.
Those who participate in illegal sideshows could also have their vehicles towed and held for a 30-day period.
The OPD encourages those who find themselves in the middle of a sideshow look for a safe alternate route that would allow them to escape sideshow activities.
“If you are involved in a vehicle collision with a sideshow participant, do not confront the individual; instead call 911 to report the incident,” OPD said in a post on X Sunday afternoon.
OPD will collaborate with law enforcement partners to enforce impaired driving and illegal sideshow activities.
If you participate in illegal sideshows, your vehicle could be towed and seized with a 30-day hold.
(FOX40.COM) — Nearly 90 vehicles were recently towed at a massive sideshow bust in Stockton, and one man said he was at the wrong place at the wrong time when he was held at gunpoint by law enforcement and his vehicle seized. •Video Above: Sheriff who seized 88 vehicles at sideshow says he’s waiting for approval of search warrants
It was about 10 p.m. on Feb. 3 when 25-year-old Merced resident, Isaac Cervantes, who was only in town for a night, said he left his hotel to fill up his gas tank before work. He said he works as a mechanic for a non-profit organization that helps low-income families with SMOG repairs. Still in his work uniform, he said he headed to the gas station located seven minutes from his hotel.
“I had to be at work at 5 a.m. I was prioritizing everything, so I decided to get gas the night before to have more time in the morning,” Cervantes told FOX40.com.
After leaving the station Cervantes said he was stopped by the sight of smoke coming from the nearby intersection.
“I thought there was an accident and that something was on fire because of all the smoke. I thought maybe someone needed help,” Cervantes said. “As a mechanic, it’s in my nature to help people in need. If I see someone with a flat tire or a car overheating, I’m going to stop and see if I can help.”
Cervantes said his work-assigned trip to Stockton was his first visit to the city.
“I never really heard of sideshows. I saw some stuff online, but I didn’t know that people had them in the middle of streets and neighborhoods,” Cervantes said.
Cervantes said that as he got closer to the sideshow scene, he realized there was no fire and that something else was going on. It was the sideshow. He said he attempted to drive away from the area, but it was too late. Before he could leave, he said he was stopped in the middle of an intersection by flashing lights and the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office deputies with their guns drawn and pointed at him.
“They ordered me to stop and get out of the vehicle. They had guns pointed at me with their dogs barking,” Cervantes said. “I remained calm and followed their instructions. I assured myself that I’d show them my work stuff, my hotel information, and my work email that showed I was only there on business and then everything would be okay.”
But Cervantes said that’s not what happened. They would not look at the information on his phone or direct him to the sheriff in charge of the operation.
“They wouldn’t hear me out. They put me in handcuffs for two hours and then took my work truck,” Cervantes said. “Everything was so unorganized and chaotic. Nothing was investigated properly.”
Cervantes said he was not aware that sideshows were an issue in that area since he isn’t a local resident. After learning about the problem, he said it’s good that law enforcement is trying to crack down on them, but there needs to be “due diligence.”
“My rights were violated. I was arrested for two hours and not even given a citation,” Cervantes said. “I feel robbed. I feel like I’m facing punishment for someone else’s actions.”
He added, “I would have been okay if I was cited so that I can show up to court and talk to a judge. But the sheriff’s office hasn’t given any information. I don’t know what I’m being charged with, who to talk to, or what the next steps are. My rights were taken from me. They should reconsider their approach.”
Cervantes said that besides being a mechanic, he’s also a college student. Since the incident, he’s had to find alternate transportation to work and school and has not been given access to his tools, books, and laptop that we were in his work vehicle at the time of the tow.
“They looked at me in my mechanic’s uniform and accused me of making repairs to the cars in the show,” Cervantes said. “They judged me because of how I look and took my livelihood. Would it have been different if I were in a suit and tie?”
Cervantes said that this was his first time in Stockton and hopefully the last. He said he told his boss, who picked him up from the scene, that he had no desire to accept future work in the city because of how he was treated by law enforcement.
He said he is currently working on securing legal representation.
“I really don’t want to go down this legal rabbit hole,” Cervantes said. “I want the sheriff’s office to apologize and give me my way of like back.”
Since the incident, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said to “stop calling” because no one is getting their vehicles back anytime soon.
“Those vehicles will be held until their court cases have been settled with the district attorney’s office,” Withrow said. “They won’t be released anytime soon unless the DA (District Attorney) has settled your case. No need to keep calling. Your vehicles will stay with us. Therefore, they can’t be used in any more public nuisance or sideshows.”
As of Feb. 9, the sheriff said the vehicles are being “held as evidence” and that he’s waiting on a local judge to sign off on 88 search warrants in attempts to find illegal items inside the vehicles. Charges have yet to be filed.
FOX40 reached out to San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office for comment but has yet to receive a response.
