Concord three-car accident kills one

Oakland Tribune, Nov 8, 2008 by Paul Thissen

Concord

ANTIOCH MAN DIES IN CRASH: A man was killed in a three-car accident on northbound Interstate 680 in Concord on Saturday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Contra Costa coroner's office identified the man as Armando Hernandez, 31, of Antioch.

The accident occurred just after midnight near Concord Avenue, said CHP Officer Ralph Caggiano. Hernandez swerved left to avoid two mattresses that were blocking the road's two center lanes, according to a CHP news release.

In swerving left, he hit another car that was passing him in the left lane, spinning that car. Both cars then hit the center divider, according to the news release.

Hernandez's car then headed back into the road, with its lights off, where it was hit by another car, the release said.

That spun Hernandez's car again and threw him from the car, the release said.

All four lanes were initially blocked. The three left lanes were closed until 3:28 a.m.

Pleasant Hill

cell phone store robbed: An armed man robbed the MetroPCS cell phone store in Pleasant Hill on Saturday, the second robbery at the store in less than a month, according to police.

A suspect brandishing a handgun entered the store at 1888 Contra Costa Blvd. at 1:49 p.m. and demanded cash from a clerk, according to a Pleasant Hill police news release. The man ran into the parking lot near a Washington Mutual branch and a Safeway, but the clerk could not see if he got into a vehicle.

The suspect, who escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, is described as a black male, 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build and short hair. He was wearing baggy blue jeans, a red shirt and a red bandana.

On Oct. 23, two men, one armed with a handgun, robbed the same store. The suspects entered the store about 1 p.m. and demanded cash and merchandise. They escaped on foot.

One robber was in his 20s and about 6 feet tall. The other was in his late teens and about 5 feet 4 inches tall. Both wore black clothing.

Anyone with information about either incident should call the investigations division of the Pleasant Hill police at 925-288- 4630.