Oakland political leaders killed in SR-76 crash

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- Political and community leaders across the Bay Area remembered the lives of Peggy Moore and Hope Wood--the two women who were killed over the weekend in a fiery, three-vehicle crash in Fallbrook.

Former Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf said that Moore was instrumental in her political run and had a true passion to help others through policy.

"Many of her friends and family are shocked by-- somewhat comforted by the idea that they went immediately. That they went instantaneously without pain and that they went together," Schaaf said.

Moore and her wife Hope Wood were killed in the crash on State Route 76, near Horse Ranch Creek Road, on Friday around 11:30 p.m.

"She had been the state director of Obama and she agreed to the campaign manager for a one term council member who was challenging the incumbent this was back in 2013 – 2014," Schaaf said.

Moore was Schaaf’s campaign manager for her run for mayor of Oakland in 2015 and a senior advisor towards the end of Schaaf's time in office. But above all else, Schaaf said she remembers Moore as a close friend who loved people and making connections.

"You could not walk anywhere with Peggy without it taking two hours," Schaaf said. "She knew every person. For her, politics was deeply personal. It was about connecting through our differences. to lift up our shared hopes and just love."

Above: A May 13 report from KRON 4 on Bay Area leaders remembering Moore and Wood.

Oakland Representative Barbara Lee posted about her sadness over the loss on X, saying she is "heartbroken."

"Peggy was a friend, activist and one of the best organizers I knew," the post read. "Her passion and fight for justice and equality is what brought her and Hope together."

Moore and Wood created a political consulting firm in 2020 called Hope Action Change. The couple met while working on the Obama campaign in 2008.

"She and Hope went through this county and especially in California to empower people," Schaaf said.

Close family and friends held a vigil last night for both Moore and Wood at Lake Merritt.
KRON 4 was told the couple got married.

The events that led up to the crash remains under investigation by California Highway Patrol.

On Saturday, CHP told KRON's sister station in San Diego, FOX 5/KUSI, that the crash occurred when a westbound Jeep Gladiator was hit head on by a silver Chrysler 300 who veered over from the eastbound side of the road.

The impact caused a third vehicle, a Toyota Camry also traveling west, to side-swipe the Jeep.

The drivers of the Jeep and Chrysler, as well as two adult passengers in the Jeep, were pronounced dead at the scene. Moore and Wood were believed to have been in the Jeep, but it is unknown at this time where they may have been sitting in the vehicle.

Anyone with information about the crash that could help the investigation is asked to contact the Oceanside Area CHP office at 760-643-3400.

FOX 5/KUSI's Danielle Dawson contributed to this report.