Two Bicyclists Injured – One Critically – In Danville Hit-And-Run Saturday

A Saturday afternoon marked by a sudden flurry of pursuits, wrong-way driving and crashes was sadly capped by a hit-and-run crash on Diablo Road in Danville – an incident which left at least one cyclist critically injured and the roadway closed as police looked for the responsible driver.

The Danville incident was reported at Diablo Road and Clydesdale at 2:01 p.m. Saturday, with multiple callers reporting that a gray Ford Escape had struck two adult male cyclists – throwing them from their bikes – and fled east on Diablo towards Blackhawk.

The suspect vehicle was described as a gray Ford Escape with front-end damage. No license plate information was given.

Diablo Road remained closed in both directions at 2:40 p.m. with no time given for re-opening.

The cyclists were transported by CalStar air ambulance to area hospitals.

The horrific crash capped a flurry of strange incidents Saturday afternoon, all of which occurred within minutes of the other. San Ramon police were pursuing a suspected auto burglar south on I680 when speeds – estimated at between 90mph and 100mph – made continuing the chase impossible and it was called off in the interest of public safety.

Just prior to that chase, another was reported on eastbound State Route 4 when a wrong-way driver attempting to elude police took evasive action that led to a collision with at least one other vehicle, the impact setting the suspect vehicle ablaze.

Several ambulances were called to tend to the injured and there were reports that sheriff’s deputies were chasing at least one person who fled from the burning car on foot. Highway 4 was also closed by that accident, resulting in a lengthy backup for eastbound traffic.