A man was killed Tuesday afternoon in Pleasant Hill when his vehicle struck a pole on Coggins Drive.
The California Highway Patrol responded to a call at 2:04 p.m. about the crash at 255 Coggins Drive, near Diablo Oaks apartments. Officers found the victim unconscious when they arrived, according to the CHP website.
The report initially said the vehicle struck a tree, then was amended to say it was a pole. The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene at 2:21 p.m.
Yikes! I tried to go that way around 2:30pm today and it was blocked with about 5 police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance, all with lights on. I tried to come back that way an hour later and it was still blocked. I’m really sorry to hear someone lost his life. I wonder if he had a medical issue.
Seems like it was a chase. Not sure why CHP would be leading an investigation into something that took place in jurisdiction of Pleasant Hill PD and CCS. I live there and the only units conducting the investigation were CHP. All others left.
CHP are State Police.
So CHP had jurisdiction on an area that is actually unincorporated and Contra Costa Sheriff have jurisdiction on? Why would this be handled different than any other accident? Happens all the time and PHPD were there. Also, he didn’t hit a pole or a tree. He ripped around the corner at what must have been an insane speed and wrapped his car around a 5 foot breaker pole at the trail entrance I walk with my dog daily. So unless anyone else here has further information? My guess is still CHP chase that was disengaged.
CHP has jurisdiction on road and traffic related incidents in unincorporated areas.
Gotcha. So they sent 8 units to this accident when it’s Sheriff jurisdiction and PHPD is able to assist? Freeway pursuit turned city makes no sense? This wasn’t just some random speeding incident. But hey, I just live here and saw the aftermath. You know better than me.
If you are that worked up about it, contact CHP and ask why they conducted the investigation.
It’s probably because that part of pleasant hill is technically an unincorporated area, so it is the jurisdiction of CHP. I know this because I got into an accident around there and the walnut creek police said that it wasn’t their jurisdiction.
It’s contra costa sheriff and they were briefly there and left along with PHPD. The CHP response was significant though, like 7-8 units.
It’s in unincorporated pleasant hill, which means in’s Contra Costa Sheriff’s jurisdiction. The Sheriffs Office contracts with CHP for traffic collisions.
Must be why I see so many CHP responding to accidents around the area I actually live.
Tyler, I think the disconnect is this; Not all of Coggins Drive falls within the City Limits of Pleasant Hill.
If the accident occurred anywhere within about 30 feet west of the front of the oak tree (north of the bend for southbound Coggins Dr), basically everything east of 225 Coggins Drive that area is unincorporated Pleasant Hill. Meaning the Post Office assigns the nearest incorporated city with influence to that address for mail delivery.
As was pointed out by others, the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated area of the County falls to the Sheriff’s Office, while traffic enforcement falls to the California Highway Patrol.
This much I am sure of, nobody likes to do someone else’s work. If it wasn’t the CHP’s jurisdiction, they wouldn’t have taken the accident and if it were a pursuit it would show up on the CHP’s website.
It was either the telephone pole as he was turning left or possibly the street light opposite side. Very sad.
Yeah it was neither.
Is that area considered unincorporated Pleasant Hill? If so, that may be the reason that CHP is responding. I believe Pleasant Hill PD may not have jurisdiction in unincorporated Pleasant Hill, but someone else may have better info.
@SallyG
That is an unincorporated area called Contra Costa Centre, pre-2000–if I read that correctly on Wiki—it was called Waldon.
CHP and State Police are NOT the same
Since 1995 CHP and State Police are the same.
For all intents and purposes they most certainly are.
The CHP provides security of the Governor and visiting dignitaries. They provide security to all State Buildings and aqueducts. They make tax seizures for the California Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization. Just like the California State Police before they were merged with the CHP.
In addition sworn members of the CHP went from being identified as “State Traffic Officer” to “Officer” to reflect their added law enforcement responsibilities with the merge with the California State Police.
The CHP is the State Police in all but name.
Concord Grape, perhaps then you could tell us where the California State Police barracks is located? Thank you in advance.
“ The report initially said the vehicle struck a tree, then was amended to say it was a pole.”
That pole was once a tree technically. The man struck part of a tree that the city killed, milled and mounted into cement. If we want to be technically correct…
Yeah it was one of those cement blockers they put at trailheads for situations just like this. Will be interesting to see the final report from CHP because as stated above it didn’t seem like just some speeding incident based off the response and how it was handled. I sent a few videos and photos to claycord.
Maybe the driver was chasing him or herself.
Darwin wins again!
No seat belt again..another Einstien from east county.He didn’t jump out in time.
RIP … I am not completely heartless
Wow…what a compilation of guesswork!
Now lets hear all of you tell us what actually happened to Obama’s Chef.
Someone poked a hole in his surfboard.
Speculation as a hobby.
Stupid is as stupid does.
But were any fire hydrants injured?
Slow down everyone and spare your families the grief of your passing.
I live right where the accident happened. It’s VERY common that drivers speed way too fast around the curve. It’s a lot sharper than many think. People are always entering the trail right there too, so it’s a good thing no one else was hurt. Sadly a life was lost.
CHP handles all accidents on roads in unincorporated areas of the county. That area is unincorporated PH. It’s all about cost, PHPD isn’t going to incur the cost of the investigation, especially with a fatality.
The road in that area takes a second to figure out when headed EB and if unfamiliar and traveling way above the posted limit….