Oakland, CA- A 19 year-old UC Berkeley student died after an accident early Thursday when he crashed into a tree that had fallen onto Freeway 13 in Oakland Hills, setting off a chain of events that led to his death.
Kevin Lacanlale and three other passengers were traveling southbound on the freeway around 4 a.m. when they came across the 30 ft. tree spanning the roadway. The Toyota Camry they were riding in struck the tree and rolled to a stop in the center median, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Lacanlale and his three passengers were not seriously injured and began crossing the highway to the right shoulder when a Ford truck then stuck the tree. The truck then flew into the air and crashed onto Lacanlale, killing him on the scene.
The three other Toyota passengers and the truck driver were not seriously injured and were taken to a local hospital.
California Highway Patrol said that recent rain in the area caused the tree to fall onto the highway.
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