Driver attack was deliberate but random, Berkeley police say
"There is no evidence that these acts were racially or politically motivated," Berkeley police said in a statement Tuesday night.
The driver who ran down three Berkeley residents Tuesday morning in the Claremont-Elmwood district chose his victims at random, authorities say.
All three people — a 78-year-old man on a bike, a 46-year-old woman jogging and a 30-year-old man walking a dog — remain hospitalized in stable condition at Highland Hospital, the local trauma center, Tuesday night.
"There is no evidence that these acts were racially or politically motivated," Berkeley police said in a new statement released shortly before publication.
Authorities say the driver, a 26-year-old Vallejo man, was under the influence of drugs when he struck all three people near Emerson Elementary shortly before 8 a.m.
He was arrested on suspicion of three counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted carjacking, vehicle theft and several other crimes, including felony DUI causing injury, police said.
His name has not been released pending the booking process.
Scroll down for an update to the story.
Both of the carjacking victims were mothers in the car with a child, police said.
"One victim said they were in the car, her and her baby, when he tried to get in and pull them out," according to dispatch audio reviewed by The Scanner.
The attack happened just before school drop-off time during the morning commute.
A graphic video of one part of the attack, shared by KTVU's Henry Lee, has been making the rounds online.
(Discretion) Surveillance video obtained by @KTVU shows driver of stolen @BMW hitting dog walker on sidewalk & dragging him near Belrose & Derby near @UCBerkeley, part of random rampage in which 2 others were hit & 2 others targeted for carjacking, per @berkeleypolice. 4,5,6 p.m. pic.twitter.com/9eFfjCLbJt
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) September 16, 2025
Police say the driver, who was in a stolen BMW, went onto the sidewalk on Belrose Avenue and intentionally struck a man walking a dog, dragging him for at least 30 feet, according to early reports.
Witnesses said the driver then "accelerated, and went back to hit the female victim."
A BPD officer who was responding to investigate that call came across the third victim, the 78-year-old cyclist, surrounded by a crowd on Derby Street.
Emilie Raguso
According to Berkeley police, the driver quickly dumped the stolen BMW in the 2800 block of Garber Street by Emerson Elementary.
The car had been taken from an address in Richmond earlier that morning but had not yet been reported.
The two carjacking attempts followed — no one was hurt — at which point the driver tried to steal an unoccupied car from a property on College Avenue, according to police.
Less than 10 minutes after the incident began, BPD found the driver in a yard and ordered him onto the ground, according to dispatch audio.
Officers ultimately used a restraint device to take him into custody after he refused to cooperate, authorities said.
"Preliminary checks indicate he has had no prior contacts with Berkeley law enforcement," BPD said Tuesday night.
Berkeley police are still asking community members to share any related information, including video footage, about the incidents Tuesday morning.
Update, 8:20 p.m. According to booking records, the driver has been identified as Ivan Salvador Ochoa Munguia.
He is being held without bail at Berkeley Jail with arraignment set for Thursday.
Stay tuned for updates.
