Fundraiser started for family of woman killed during Hercules police chase
HERCULES — Friends have started an online fundraiser for the family of a 31-year-old woman who died last week when a person driving a stolen SUV and being chased by police crashed into her vehicle.
The crash also injured her two 6-year-old twin sons, authorities said. One of the children remained in extremely critical condition Monday, according to Hercules police Chief Joseph Vasquez. The other boy suffered a broken leg and other unspecified injuries, according to the fundraising page.
The fundraiser identified the woman as Ryniqueka Dowell. Authorities on Monday did not publicly confirm her identity.
By 10:30 a.m. Monday, the fundraiser had raised $6,080 of the $50,000 it was seeking for expenses to help with Dowell’s funeral and the children’s medical costs.
“More importantly, please keep Ryniqueka’s family in prayer during this time of adversity,” read a message on the fundraiser page.
Police identified the driver who trying to escape police as 20-year-old Ralph E. White III, of Vallejo. Vasquez said White was was arrested on suspicion of one count of second-degree murder; three counts of evading a police officer and causing death or great bodily injury; and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle.
The officer involved in the pursuit remained on paid administrative leave Monday, per department policy. The department’s vehicle pursuit policy says a pursuit can be initiated when an officer “reasonably believes that a suspect, who has been given appropriate signal to stop by a law enforcement officer, is attempting to evade arrest or detention by fleeing in a vehicle.”
Vasquez last week said the chase started after the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office contacted the Hercules department about 7:27 p.m. on March 23 about a stolen 2021 Mazda SUV possible heading toward Hercules on eastbound Interstate 80. Pole-mounted license plate readers in El Sobrante and Hercules also alerted police to the Mazda SUV, he said.
The Mazda exited I-80 at the Willow Avenue exit, which eventually turns into Parker Avenue in unincorporated Rodeo, Vasquez said. An officer pulled up close to the Mazda SUV, which then accelerated, he said.
The officer turned on his lights and siren and pursued the SUV for about a half-mile, Vasqez said. The SUV crashed into a 2017 Nissan as it was making a left onto eastbound 4th Street, Vasquez said.
Dowell was pronounced dead at the scene.
Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this story. Please check back for updates.