A Driver Killed our Neighbor Ambrose Hicks in East Peralta on April 16th
On April 16th at 6pm, a driver hit 39-year-old Ambrose Hicks as he were walking in the crosswalk at East 12th St and 22nd Avenue in East Peralta/San Antonio. The driver, in an Infiniti eastbound, did not stop. Ambrose was taken to the hospital, and died shortly thereafter. The vehicle has been recovered, but no arrests have been made as of yet.
Our hearts go out to Ambrose, whose life was cut short as he was simply walking and going about his life, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Traffic Case Information - #26-016603
On April 16, 2026, at about 1755 hrs., the Oakland Police Department responded to E.12th St and 22nd Ave to investigate a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian.
Officers arrived on scene and located a pedestrian lying in the 2200 block of
E.12th St with severe internal injuries from the collision. Falck and OFD were on scene providing first aid. The Pedestrian was transported to Highland Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition and shortly succumbed to his injuries.
Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears that the pedestrian was
traveling northbound on 23rd Ave in the crosswalk when a Infiniti traveling
eastbound collided with him. The vehicle continued traveling eastbound on E
12th St in an unknown direction of flight.
The pedestrian was a 39-year-old male and an Oakland Resident. The
identification is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
It is unknown if speed, alcohol, or drugs played a factor in this collision.
This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to
contact the Oakland Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit at (510) 777-8570.
We are saddened and outraged that yet another life has been tragically taken due to traffic violence. 6 people have been needlessly killed on the streets of Oakland just this year, with untold numbers of others whose lives have been irreparably harmed because of serious injuries due to traffic violence.
These injuries and deaths from traffic violence are preventable.
East 12th Street is an inherently dangerous road. It is 3 and 4 lanes wide in each direction, with an freeway ramp/overpass at the west side of the intersection. Here, there are long stretches without stops, heavy traffic, trucks, and a freeway. On the High-Injury Network, East 12th is one of the most dangerous roads in the city.
There is an inconsistent paint-only bike lane on East 12th, the kind that disappears entirely when convenient for drivers make a right turn, for example. But the East Bay Greenway is slated the begin construction in this segment later this year. This project, led by the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), reduces car space to two lanes each way, with concrete-protected bike lanes in each direction. Fewer lanes and other treatments will hopefully reduce the danger here for everyone on the road.
Traffic safety is public safety. We call on elected leaders, Oakland Police Department, Oakland Fire Department, and the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) to treat the traffic safety crisis like the public safety crisis it is and to accelerate efforts to make Oakland’s streets safe for everyone, whether they are traveling by car, bike, on foot, or in a mobility device.
- We call on OakDOT to prioritize street safety upgrades here and across the city. Speed cushions, pedestrian bulb-outs, closing slip turns are are simple things OakDOT can do to make it safer for us to cross the street.
- We call on the Oakland Police Department to treat these wrongful traffic deaths with the same gravity as other deaths.
- We call on the Oakland Fire Department to work collaboratively with OakDOT to reduce vehicle lanes and slow vehicle traffic across Oakland to save lives.
- We call on Oakland’s elected leadership to prioritize and fully fund street safety work and remove contracting, staffing and other barriers to achieving safe streets for all residents.
About Traffic Violence Rapid Response
We are a group of caring Oaklanders organizing together to put an end to traffic violence throughout Oakland.
We believe traffic violence is a systemic solvable problem. We believe we can build safe streets for everyone using internationally recognized street designs that prioritize the safety and comfort of all residents, especially our most vulnerable neighbors.
We respond to incidents of traffic violence by raising awareness about the incident, lifting the voices of the victims and the community, and demanding concrete action from those with the power to help.