The 17-year-old boy who allegedly lost control of his SUV and struck and killed a man and his 9-year-old daughter as they rode their bikes in Concord on Saturday morning was released from juvenile hall Tuesday.
NBC Bay Area's Jodi Hernandez said the boy's parents arrived at the jail Tuesday afternoon and were allowed to drive their minivan around back to retrieve their son who squatted down in the back seat in order to avoid his photo taken. Concord police confirmed he was released from jail at 4:30 p.m.
Police said the investigation continues even though he was released from juvenile hall in Martinez.
The teen, a Concord resident, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the accident on Treat Boulevard. We are not releasing his name because he is a juvenile.
The district attorney's office said it would not file charges until it receives a complete report on the accident from the Concord Police Department, and investigators are still compiling the report, police Lt. Bill Roche said.
"They want the entire packet done before they make the review. We still have a lot of work to do," Roche said.
Roche said investigators are poring over physical evidence, witness reports and the mechanical review of the vehicle involved, a white 2002 Cadillac Escalade. They are also looking into whether the teen was texting or talking on the phone and whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident, Roche said.
The boy struck three bicyclists -- 41-year-old Solaiman Nuri and his two daughters -- around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday as they pedaled east on Treat Boulevard near Oak Grove Road.
Nuri died at the scene, and his 9-year-old daughter Hadessa Nuri died shortly after being taken to John Muir Medical Center. Another daughter, age 12, was also struck but only suffered minor injuries, Roche said.
The family has received an outpouring of support from the community since the crash. They released the following statement Tuesday:
On behalf on the Karzai/Nuri family we would like to thank the People of Concord and the rest of the community who have reached out to our family and have been a great help in this time of pain. We would also like to thank the Concord police department and the district attorney for all of there hard work. We understand this will be a long process and have been made aware the driver might be released today. We know this country has a justice system put in place and we respect it, that is why our families moved here over 27 years ago. At this time we are focused on being a family and Laying our loved ones to rest and letting the police do there job. Thank You
Emal Karzai
On behalf of the Karzai/Nuri family
The vehicle was driving west on Treat when the crash occurred, Roche said.
The car was traveling at an "excessive rate of speed" through the intersection when it went out of control, struck a fire hydrant, hit the bicyclists, then careened into a building, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Lewis Broschard said.
Broschard said the bicyclists were riding on the sidewalk when they were struck by the SUV.
"We believe speed to be a factor, but the sequence of events is still under investigation," Roche said.
The building was significantly damaged in the crash, Roche said.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Traffic Officer Ken Carlson at (925) 603-5931.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
