A memorial for Lolomanaia Soakai who died on International Boulevard. June 26, 2022 OAKLAND, Calif. - It was supposed to be a celebratory weekend.Lolomanaia "Lolo" Soakai and his mother had attended the graduation of a fellow church member in Concord after she earned her bachelor's degree.Meanwhile, cousin Ian Finau and members of Toko Harley Rydaz – a Tongan biker club – had finished escorting a reggae artist to her show in Oakland on their motorcycles.As many do in Oakland - especially in this tight-knit Tongan community - both groups and their extended families ended up converging by chance at the popular 54 Burrito Truck on 54th Avenue for a late-night snack.
But unbeknownst to the group of friends and family, they were also sharing a meal at the same spot where Oakland police were pursuing a 19-year-old driver, who was allegedly at an illegal sideshow was speeding down International Boulevard at 100 mph on Sunday about 2 a.m.
The chase ended badly.The driver in a Nissan 350Z crashed into a row of parked cars and motorcycles belonging to the biker club. "Everybody was there at the wrong time." Cousin Ian FinauOne of those bikes fell on top of the 28-year-old Soakai, killing him, moments after he hugged a cousin goodbye.
His mother broke her back. His two cousins were sent to the hospital with minor injuries and have since been discharged."Everybody was there at the wrong time," said Finau, one of Soakai's many cousins and member of the biker club.Finau stayed at the scene until sunrise, watching as investigators interviewed witnesses.