Pedestrian Crash near Park View Terrace Left Retired UC Berkeley Professor Dead

OAKLAND, CA (February 11, 2025) – Monday evening, Michael Burawoy was fatally struck in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident on Grand Avenue. 

The deadly collision happened shortly before 7:15 p.m. in the area of Grand Avenue and Park View Terrace near Lake Merritt. 

Upon arrival, officers discovered the pedestrian suffering from major injuries. First responders transported the male victim to a nearby hospital where he later died.

According to investigators, an unidentified westbound vehicle hit the person walking in a marked crosswalk. The driver then fled the scene without rendering aid to the victim. 

On Tuesday, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Coroner Bureau identified the deceased victim as 77-year-old Michael Burawoy. 

Burawoy was a professor of sociology at UC Berkeley for nearly half a century. He authored 12 books and over 120 publications and served as president of both the American Sociological Association and the International Sociological Association.

Authorities are asking those who witnessed the fatal hit-and-run to call the department’s Traffic Investigation Unit at (510) 777-8570.

Sweet James offers our sincere sympathies to the family of Michael Burawoy as they navigate this difficult period.

Losing someone in a hit-and-run pedestrian crash is always a traumatic experience for the surviving family. Our wrongful death attorneys at Sweet James understand that the legal issues impose challenges to those involved. Call us today at 1-844-363-7713 to arrange a free and confidential case evaluation.