Boy taken off life support following Hercules crash that killed mother, injured twin
HERCULES, Calif. - A young boy who was critically wounded in a Hercules crash that also injured his twin brother and left his mother dead was taken off life support Monday, the family said.
Jamari Humble, 6, was in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Oakland and had no brain activity, according to a GoFundMe page for the family.
Jamari's twin brother, Jamani Humble, suffered a broken leg.
The boys' mother, 31-year-old Ryniqueka Dowell, was killed in the crash last Thursday after the driver of an allegedly stolen SUV slammed into their 2017 Nissan while trying to escape from police.
According to police, officers had received information from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office about a stolen 2021 Mazda SUV. The SUV was heading toward Hercules on eastbound Interstate 80.
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A Hercules police officer saw the stolen SUV exit the highway onto northbound Willow Avenue into Rodeo.
Police said the driver of the SUV began to accelerate, and the officer chased it for a short time before the vehicle collided with the Nissan that was driven by Dowell with her two sons inside.
Video of the crash shows the driver speeding down Parker Avenue and slamming into the family's car.
The alleged driver of the stolen SUV was identified as Ralph Ellsworth White III, 20, of Vallejo.
He was arrested suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, possession of a stolen vehicle and three counts of pursuit causing death or great bodily injury.
The surviving family members are left to deal with the pain.
"We're dealing with not only the loss of Ryniqueka but of Jamari," cousin Ranesha Moore said on Monday. "His brother needs him. But he's no longer here."
Hercules Police Chief Joe Vasquez said the officers chased the suspect for less than half a mile and did not have time to weigh whether to abandon the pursuit.
"It's really tragic," he said. "It's sad in every sense of the word and my heart goes out to the family."
The Contra Costa County District Attorney, the sheriff and the CHP are investigating the crash.
Surveillance video of deadly crash during Hercules police pursuit
Surveillance video shows the moment the driver of a stolen Mazda SUV collided with a Nissan that was being driven by a 31-year-old mother with her twin boys. The mother died from her injuries and one of her sons was critically wounded.