Highway 24 Reopens After Shooting Investigation in Orinda, California
A shooting incident on Highway 24 in Orinda, California, brought traffic to a standstill on Wednesday morning. The westbound lanes were closed for approximately 30 minutes as authorities investigated the scene.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. near the Fish Ranch Road exit. A 66-year-old man driving an SUV was struck by bullets, but managed to escape serious injury. His vehicle’s back windshield was shattered, as seen in SKY7 video footage provided by he officials.
The CHP shut down the westbound lanes at 11:15 a.m., causing a significant traffic backlog. Motorists were forced to take alternative routes, with some drivers seen driving the wrong way on freeway onramps to escape the gridlock.
CHP Officer Daniel Gilmore stated that authorities are investigating whether the shooting was targeted and if it was gang-related. The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, was not available to comment, but his wife confirmed that he was unharmed.
The incident has left local residents and commuters shaken. “It’s so hard to believe,” said Lou Reginado, an Orinda resident. “Whenever I drive, I always yield. I never challenge anyone. I just play it very safe.”
The CHP is urging motorists to exercise caution and consideration on the roads. “Be the driver you want to drive next to,” Officer Gilmore advised.
This incident marks the second shooting on Highway 24 in two weeks, following another incident in Oakland last week. Investigators are currently looking into both shootings, but no arrests have been made.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, a suspect fired a shot at a driver on Southbound 880 near downtown Oakland. The victim was not injured and managed to safely exit the freeway. The suspect was later arrested on Wednesday, according to the CHP.
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