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Oakland man charged with crashing car into man in wheelchair, leaving victim for dead

June 7, 2025
Oakland man charged with crashing car into man in wheelchair, leaving victim for dead

OAKLAND — A suspect has been arrested and charged for allegedly crashing his car into a man on a motorized wheelchair, then running away as the victim lay dying.

James Smith, 61, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash and having nine prior felonies since 1988. Prosecutors say he has priors for robbery and shooting, which would make this Smith’s third strike if he’s convicted.

On the morning of May 4, Smith allegedly crashed his Mazda into Elmo Ballard Jr., 49, near 18th Street and San Pablo Avenue, pinning Ballard and his wheelchair underneath the car. Then Smith ran from the area, stripping off his baseball cap and jacket as he fled, authorities said.

Ballard was pronounced dead at a hospital that day, authorities said.

Surveillance cameras captured Smith running from the crash site to his home on Martin Luther King Way, authorities allege. The Mazda was also registered to Smith, who was arrested on May 31 and charged on June 4, court records show.

Smith was also arrested on suspicion of drug possession, according to jail records. His bail has been set at $50,000 and he is next due in court on June 10, with a preliminary hearing to follow a week later. He has pleaded not guilty.

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