Retired UC Berkeley Professor Killed in Oakland Hit-and-Run Incident
A retired University of California, Berkeley professor was tragically killed in a hit-and-run incident in Oakland on Monday, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The victim has been identified as 77-year-old Michael Burawoy by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Coroner Bureau.
Burawoy was a renowned sociology professor who dedicated nearly 50 years to UC Berkeley, where he made significant contributions to the field. He served as president of both the American Sociological Association and the International Sociological Association. A pioneer of public sociology, Burawoy focused on bridging academic research with broader societal issues, including public policy, political activism, and social movements.
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The incident occurred on Monday evening near Lake Merritt, at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Park View Terrace. According to Oakland police, officers responded to the scene shortly before 7:15 p.m. after receiving reports of a vehicle striking a pedestrian. Upon arrival, they found Burawoy critically injured in a marked crosswalk. He was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators determined that the vehicle involved was traveling west on Grand Avenue when it struck Burawoy and fled the scene. As of now, no suspects or the vehicle have been identified, and it remains unclear whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the collision.
Burawoy’s academic legacy is vast, with 12 books and over 120 publications to his name. His influential work in Marxist social theory, particularly his book *Manufacturing Consent: Changes in the Labor Process Under Monopoly Capitalism*, has been translated into multiple languages and remains a cornerstone in the field.
In recognition of his contributions, UC Berkeley established the Burawoy Chair’s Endowment for Sociology following his retirement in 2023. Burawoy’s impact on sociology is widely regarded as monumental, with many associating the name Berkeley Sociology with his enduring legacy.
The investigation into the hit-and-run remains ongoing as authorities work to identify the driver responsible for this tragic loss.
