Reckless-driving suspect admitted racing, cop says

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 24, 2006 | by Jonathan Jones, STAFF WRITER

FREMONT -- Ravinesh Chandra, accused of reckless driving that resulted in the death of his girlfriend and their unborn child, was traveling at more than 80 mph at the time of the crash, a Union City police officer said Friday.

In a preliminary examination at the Fremont Hall of Justice, Officer Rich Noack testified that Chandra, 23, of San Jose was driving at a reckless speed on Aug. 21, 2005, when his car crashed into a tree on Union City Boulevard near Kohoutek Way, killing Annisha Reddy, 19, who was eight months pregnant at the time.

Chandra, who is charged with vehicular manslaughter, told police on the day of the accident that he was driving a black 1996 Nissan Maxima at 45 mph -- heading toward Interstate 880 about 6:20 p.m. -- when a gold Nissan crept into his lane, causing him to crash, according to Noack's testimony.

After investigators concluded he must have been traveling much faster, Chandra later admitted that he had been racing with the driver of the other Nissan, whom he described as an Asian man, according to police testimony.

A week after the accident, Union City police officers handed out fliers at the intersection asking for information about the gold Nissan. But they have not been able to locate it or its driver, Noack said.

Chandra told police that as the two cars approached a curve in the road near Whipple Road, the gold Nissan drifted into his lane, causing him to hit the brakes and lose control of his car, which crashed into a tree.

Reddy was taken by ambulance to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where she died from internal bleeding less than an hour later.

The speed limit along that stretch of road is 35 mph.

The crash was one of several serious accidents in the fall of 2005 that resulted in a fatality or serious injury.

The preliminary examination is scheduled to continue July 14. Chandra remains free on $30,000 bail.

Staff writer Jonathan Jones can be reached at (510) 353-7005 or jjones@angnewspapers.com.