Two East Bay leaders are among four people killed Friday in a fatal car crash in San Diego County, several friends of the well-known personalities reported.
“I’m heartbroken to hear of the tragic loss of Peggy Moore and Hope Wood,” California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee said in an X post. Of Moore, she said: “Her passion and fight for justice and equality is what brought her and Hope together.”
According to news reports, four people were killed in the crash around 11:20 p.m. Friday on Highway 76 about a mile east of Interstate 15, near the community of Pala.
An eastbound Chrysler 300 veered into the westbound lane, colliding with a Jeep Gladiator, the California Highway Patrol said.
Three people in the Jeep were killed: the driver, who the CHP said was a 58-year-old man, and passengers Moore and Wood. The Chrysler’s driver was also killed.
Another passenger in the Jeep was severely injured, the CHP said.
A Toyota Camry that was westbound behind the Jeep was involved in a minor side swipe, the CHP told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Authorities have yet to determine why the Chrysler’s driver entered the wrong lane. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.
State Sen. Aisha Wahab, who represents portions of Alameda and Santa Clara counties, said in an Instagram post she was inspired by Moore and Wood.
“Saddened by the loss of Peggy Moore and Hope Wood! Peggy was inspirational and so positive in life,” Wahab said. “Both of them worked to better the nation, California, and the East Bay! She taught so many organizers so much!”
According to Hope Action Change’s official website, Moore and Wood, the couple who founded and have led the organizational development and consultancy firm since 2019, “met and fell in love” during the campaign of former President Barack Obama in 2008. In 2016, Moore made a bid for the Oakland City Council, but lost to Rebecca Kaplan.
Moore was a senior adviser to former Oakland mayor Libby Schaff from 2015 to 2017 and a special projects manager to the mayor from 2020 to 2022. She was also a training director with the California Democratic Party from 2019 to 2020.
Moore’s work with the former mayor focused on implementing restorative justice programs for Oakland’s youth, improving access to affordable healthcare within City Hall, and restructuring boards and commissions.
Before Wood developed the political consultancy firm with Moore, her profile says, she was a teacher and parent organizer in South and East Los Angeles in 2001 and “found her political voice in the 2007-2008 Obama campaign.”
The couple also championed same-sex causes, campaigning to prevent the passage of a state ballot proposition aimed at invalidating same-sex marriages.
“Together they organized, changed hearts and minds, and helped to create a world where who you love doesn’t limit your freedoms,” Lee said. “Both Peggy and Hope made an impact on our community, on our city, on our state and on our nation that will be felt for generations to come.”
The CHP is urging anyone with more information or who may have witnessed the collision to reach out to the Oceanside Area CHP office at (760) 643-3400.