A jury in a Contra Costa County coroner's inquest found Tuesday that an Oakland man who died in a crash following a police pursuit last year in Orinda died as a result of an accident, according to a spokesman for the sheriff.
Lawrence Martin, 20, was transported to a hospital after a police pursuit and crash near the Orinda BART station Saturday, July 21, 2018.
Orinda police had attempted to stop a Nissan Altima for vehicle code violations in the vicinity of St. Stephens Drive and Tahos Road around 9 a.m.
The driver of the Nissan allegedly sped away, leading officers onto state Highway 24. Officers lost sight of the vehicle, but it subsequently crashed near the BART station.
Martin and a second man in the vehicle, later identified as 20-year-old Danny Lockett of San Francisco, were both transported to a hospital. Martin died and Lockett was arrested on suspicion of felony evasion and violating the terms of his probation.
According to Jimmy Lee, who issued a statement on behalf of the sheriff's office, the inquest jury unanimously determined that the death had been accidental, based on witness testimony.
Local
The coroner convenes inquests any time a person's death involves a peace officer. Juries have the option to rule the death an accident, suicide, death by natural causes or death at the hand of another by a manner not considered an accident.