Attempted murder charges filed in Berkeley hit-and-run case

BERKELEY — Prosecutors on Thursday charged a North Bay man with multiple counts of premeditated attempted murder and using a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon in connection with a pair of hit-and-run collisions earlier this week in Berkeley.

Ivan Salvador Ochoa Munguia, 26, of Vallejo, is also facing felony charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in an injury other than to himself, unlawful driving or taking a vehicle, attempted unlawful driving or taking a vehicle, and receiving stolen property, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

The charges include sentencing enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon and inflicting great bodily injury.

On Tuesday morning, Ochoa Munguia hit two victims — a 46-year-old woman out for a jog and a 30-year-old man walking his dog — in the 2700 block of Belrose Avenue, according to police.

A third victim — a 78-year-old man riding his bicycle — was found later on Derby Street.

All three victims were taken to area hospitals, where they were listed in stable condition.

Berkeley police Officer Jessica Perry described the collisions as “deliberate acts.”

“While the victims involved in these crashes do not appear to have been specifically targeted, the crashes themselves appear to be deliberate acts by the suspect,” Perry said. “There is no evidence to suggest these acts were racially or politically motivated.”

Ochoa Munguia was also linked to a pair of carjackings — both involving women driving their children to school — on Garber Street, police said. No injuries were reported.

Officers arrested Ochoa Munguia on College Avenue after he tried to steal another car, according to police.

The car Ochoa Munguia was driving had been reported stolen in Richmond, police said.

Ochoa Munguia was arraigned Thursday and is slated to return to court Oct. 1 for a plea hearing.