Features

Dies in crash 

A retired Berkeley deputy fire chief died Sunday, the day after he was fatally injured when his golf cart was struck by a car at the Rossmoor retirement community near Walnut Creek. 

Deputy Fire Chief Gil Dong said Roland Scrivner had served 29 years in the department, retiring in 1980 after spending his last six years as deputy chief. 

“He was also a professional actor, and he appeared in commercials and the movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” said Deputy Chief Dong. 

In addition to the 1988 biopic, Scrivner was also featured in a 1989 segment of the television drama series “Night Caller,” according to the Internet Movie Database. 

He is survived by his spouse of 56 years, Inez, who was golfing with him at the time of the accident. 

Dramatic rescue 

After a Monday car crash on Seventh Street around 7 p.m. left a 2-year-old boy pinned in the wreckage of the family car, Berkeley firefighters used the Jaws of Life to rescue the toddler. 

Deputy Chief Dong said the child was pinned in a infant car seat by the post that separates the front and rear passenger compartments, with the metal bent over the child’s legs. 

“The child was essentially encapsulated by the post and the rooftop,” said the deputy chief. “It was a very delicate extrication.” 

Once freed, the youngster was rushed to Children’s Hospital in Oakland and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. 

All three occupants in the car, including the mother and a 4-year-old brother of the injured child, were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Only the 2-year-old was injured. 

Berkeley police spokesperson Officer Andrew J. Frankel said the one-car accident began when the children’s mother, 26-year-old Yahaira Sandoval, struck a parked car as she was driving south on Sixth Street at Dwight Way. 

“She continued on,” ending up on Seventh Street where she struck a second car and a neighbor called police, said Officer Frankel. 

Officers arrested the mother for driving under the influence and took her off to jail, he said. 

Balcony fire 

Firefighters responded to a call at 3:38 a.m. Saturday, reporting a structure fire in the 1900 block of Hearst Avenue. 

What they found was a small blaze on a balcony, which had been ignited by one of the residents of the building. A fire extinguisher smothered the flames, with a little water from a fire engine completing the task. 

“We don’t know whether it was intentional or not,” said Deputy Chief Dong. The resident involved was treated at the scene and taken for additional treatment to a local facility. 

The official damage estimate topped out at $1,000. 

Mercy mission 

Volunteers will gather at Berkeley Fire Station 5 at 2680 Shattuck Ave. on Dec. 13 to celebrate a breakfast together, then deliver a holiday gift of food to Berkeley seniors. 

“After a quick breakfast by one of our own firefighters, our wonderful volunteers will drive to seniors’ homes and deliver the food directly to them,” said Deputy Chief Dong, adding, “Donations will be gladly accepted.” 

In addition to the department, other sponsors include the Berkeley Firefighters Random Acts, the Lions Club and both the Girl and Boy Scouts, with donations coming from Andronico’s, Whole Foods, Berkeley Natural Grocery Company, Grocery Outlet, Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market.