Horrific Oakland car crash kills young father

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - A 21-year-old man is dead after a horrific high-speed car crash on MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland.

The crash happened around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night on Macarthur near High Street.

The passenger in the crash, who walked away basically uninjured, identifies the victim as 21-year-old Jameil Brown of Oakland.

Investigators tell KTVU that the car was traveling at a high-rate of speed down the street when Brown apparently lost control and went off the road, hitting the curb and then a tree.

In this process, the vehicle was cut in half, with the back half of the car ending up about a half block away from the front half.

MacArthur Boulevard was closed for several hours as investigators examined a huge crime scene with debris scattered for hundreds of feet.

Oakland Police say Brown died at the scene while the passenger, a close friend of Brown's, was taken to the hospital and released early Thursday morning.

Relatives tell KTVU Brown had just become a father and was doing really well. He had a son just six months ago.

"Jameil was a great kid. He came from a loving family and he had a good head on his shoulders," Brown's uncle, Donte Johnson, told KTVU.

The passenger claims that another car clipped their vehicle and caused the crash.

Oakland Police said they are investigating whether or not another vehicle was involved in this crash, but would not confirm passengers account.

Investigators are examining surveillance video for clues about exactly what happened and are appealing to the public for any information about this crash.

If you have information you are urged to contact Oakland Police at (510) 777-8540.