Crime & Safety
Alameda Man Killed in High-Speed Crash Was Former Oakland Raiders Linebacker
The Alameda County coroner's office this afternoon identified the driver of the BMW involved in the crash as Thomas Howard, 30, of Alameda. Zeng Long Lu, 64, of Hayward also died in the accident.
By Bay City News Service
Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard was one of two who died in a high-speed crash on Interstate Highway 880 early this morning, according to the Alameda County coroner's bureau.
Howard, 30, of Alameda, was driving a gray BMW 750Li sedan traveling north on Highway 880 south of Fifth Avenue at 12:50 a.m., CHP Officer Daniel Hill said.
Witnesses said Howard was driving at speeds of more than 100 mph when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with the rear of semi-truck in the left lane, Hill said.
Howard's vehicle launched into the air and crossed the center median onto southbound Highway 880, Hill said.
The BMW then struck a Chevrolet Monte Carlo and crashed into a gray Honda CR-V, he said.
Officers found the BMW overturned in the southbound right lane and the Honda CR-V blocking the two southbound left lanes, Hill said.
The semi-truck was found in the northbound right lane north of the crash site, according to the CHP.
The CHP and Oakland Fire Department personnel attempted to aid the drivers of the BMW and the Honda, but the extent of damage to the vehicles prevented responders from reaching the individuals, who both died at the scene, Hill said.
The Alameda County coroner's bureau identified the other driver as 64-year-old Zeng Long Liu of Hayward.
The driver of the Chevrolet complained of pain and was transported to Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Hill said.
Howard attended the University of Texas at El Paso and was a second round draft pick for the Oakland Raiders and played with the team from 2006 to 2010.
He then played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2011 to 2012.
He signed with the Atlanta Falcons last month but was released earlier this month.
Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
For more on Monday's I-880 accident, see "UPDATE: Alameda Man Killed in Early Morning I-880 Crash in Oakland."
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