Eastbound I-580 reopens in Oakland after 2 shot

A man died Thursday night after stepping into the path of a car on Interstate 80 in Vallejo, triggering a chain reaction crash. A man died Thursday night after stepping into the path of a car on Interstate 80 in Vallejo, triggering a chain reaction crash. Photo: California Highway Patrol / Photo: California Highway Patrol / Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Eastbound I-580 reopens in Oakland after 2 shot 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A man and a woman were shot, believed to be targeted Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 580 in Oakland, prompting a temporary closure of the highway’s eastbound lanes, as well as two access ramps in the area, police said.

The Fruitvale off-ramp, the 14th Avenue on-ramp and eastbound Interstate 580 were shut down around 3:30 p.m. as officers from the California Highway Patrol and Oakland Police Department collected evidence, officials said.

Both shooting victims, who were not immediately identified, were taken to a local hospital and were in stable condition in the evening, police said.

The driver — police did not specify whether the man or the woman was driving — was headed east on the highway in a white Nissan sedan right before the Fruitvale exit when bullets ripped through the vehicle and struck the man and the woman, said Officer Johnna Watson, a spokeswoman for the Oakland Police Department.

Though injured, the driver was able to drive off the freeway down the Fruitvale off-ramp, before coming to a stop at Harold Street and Fruitvale Avenue, Watson said.

Investigators were planning to interview witnesses and the victims Wednesday night, but their preliminary investigation suggested the Nissan and its occupants were targeted, Watson said.

“It appears that this vehicle was the intended target only because there are no other vehicles reported being struck by gunfire, but investigators will certainly confirm that once they have an opportunity to speak with witnesses and the victims,” Watson said.

Police are urging anyone traveling along the Interstate 580 corridor around the time of the shooting to check their vehicle for signs of gunshots.

Major traffic delays developed during the evening commute after the lane closures, and police advised motorists to avoid the area. Shortly after 5:15 p.m., the highway was reopened, and the closed exits were after that, but residual delays remained.

“We can’t let people drive through a crime scene until we establish there’s no evidence in the lanes,” said Officer Sean Wilkenfeld, a CHP spokesman.

Cars were temporarily being directed to exit at Park Boulevard, and anyone who went past the exit was permitted to drive the opposite direction to go back to the off-ramp, officials said.

It’s too early to know if the incident was linked to a rash of highway shootings around the East Bay late last year and early this year, Wilkenfeld said.

Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Oakland police at (510) 238-3426.

Kimberly Veklerov and Michael Bodley are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com and mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @kveklerov and @michael_bodley