On November 18, 1951, at 7:35 a.m., at 28th and San Pablo, the early morning peace was disturbed by a loud argument between an estranged husband and wife. As the man proceeded to walk away from the woman, she got into her car and drove after him. Pursuing him down the street, she jumped the curb and struck him from behind with the car. He sustained moderate injuries. Many residents of the neighborhood witnessed these events and called the police.

Officer Eugene M. Oneto was dispatched to the scene. As he drove west on MacArthur Boulevard, his red light activated and his siren blaring, he entered the Market Street intersection, and his vehicle was broadsided by a car traveling south on Market Street. Oneto’s vehicle skidded out of control and hit another object. Thrown from his vehicle, he landed with considerable force on the pavement, and died a short time later at Merritt Hospital.

Oneto had been a member of Oakland Police Department for two years at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, three children, a brother (Officer Louis Oneto), and his mother.