Belmont Police: 'Speed May Have Contributed' to Sunday's Crash

The that occurred in the 2100 block of Ralston Avenue on Sunday evening is still under investigation by , but in a press release issued Monday, police are saying that preliminary information indicates that speed may have contributed to the cause of the accident. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

According police spokesman, Lt. Patrick Halleran, a 1999 Toyota Camry driven by a 39-year-old Belmont man was traveling eastbound on Ralston Avenue, approaching Alameda de las Pulgas.  The driver was unable to stop for traffic that was stopped ahead of him and collided with a SUV. Upon being struck the SUV crossed the center median and collided with a Mazda mini-van that was traveling westbound on Ralston Avenue.  After colliding with the SUV, the Toyota continued eastbound and struck a sedan causing a chain-reaction collision with other vehicles.  In total six vehicles, including the Toyota, were involved in the incident.

Nine people, the six drivers of the involved vehicles and three passengers in the Toyota, were treated at the scene by Belmont Fire Department paramedics.  The driver of the Toyota and his passengers were transported to area hospitals for non- life threatening injuries.

All lanes of Ralston were re-opened by 8:00 p.m.

Police are asking that anyone who witnessed this collision, or has information on it, contact the Belmont Police Traffic Unit at 650-595-7400.