SUV gutted in fiery Oakland crash; no one found inside

OAKLAND — An SUV was destroyed after it crashed into a fence and burst into flames Friday morning in the city’s Chinatown district, authorities said.

Whoever was in the vehicle fled before police and firefighters got to the scene. Investigators were trying to determine if the vehicle had been stolen before the crash.

The fiery crash happened about 7 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Seventh and Harrison streets.

Police said the white Ford Explorer apparently was speeding when it came out of the Posey Tube from Alameda, headed northbound on Harrison Street.

It struck a traffic signal on the south side of Seventh Street and continued across the traffic lanes before crashing into a metal and wooden parking lot fence on the northeast corner and catching fire.

A passerby knocked out some of the windows of the burning vehicle before police and firefighters arrived to search for anyone who needed rescue, but no one was inside, authorities said.

The SUV was eventually engulfed in bright yellow and orange flames, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 7:15 a.m. No one showed up at the scene while police were present to claim ownership or say that they had been driving the SUV.

Police were trying to contact the registered owner to see if the vehicle was stolen and when and where it was taken from if so.

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