East Bay leader among four killed in San Diego

Peggy Moore and her partner Hope Wood are killed in a car accident in San Diego County. (From Barbara Lee’s X-Page)

Two East Bay leaders were among four people killed in a fatal car crash in unincorporated San Diego County Friday night, several friends of the well-known figures said.

“It breaks my heart to hear of the tragic loss of Peggy More and Hope Wood.” California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee said in an X post. “Her passion and fight for justice and equality brought her and Hope together.”

According to reports from the news agency, a total of four people were killed in the accident on State Route 76 on Friday evening.

A Chrysler 300 crossed the eastbound lane into the westbound section and collided with a white Jeep Gladiator around 11:20 p.m. Both the drivers of the Chrysler and the Jeep were killed.

There were three other passengers in the jeep, two of whom died along with the driver and another was seriously injured. Authorities have yet to determine why the Chrysler driver drove into the wrong lane. It is currently being investigated whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.

It’s unclear who was driving the Jeep or the Chrysler.

State Sen. Aisha Wahab, who represents parts of Alameda and Santa Clara County, said in an Instagram post that she was inspired by Moore and Wood.

“Sad about the loss of Peggy Moore and Hope Wood! Peggy was inspirational and so positive in life,” Wahab said. “Both have worked to improve the nation, California and the East Bay! She has taught so many organizers so much!”

According to Hope Action Change’s official website, Moore and Wood, the couple who founded and ran the organizational development and consulting firm since 2019, “met and fell in love” during former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. In 2016, Moore ran for Oakland City Council but lost to Rebecca Kaplan.

Moore served as a senior adviser to former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff from 2015 to 2017 and as the mayor’s special projects manager from 2020 to 2022. She also served as director of training for the California Democratic Party from 2019 to 2020.

Moore’s work with the mayor focused on implementing restorative justice programs for Oakland’s youth, improving access to affordable health care at City Hall, and restructuring boards and commissions.

Before starting the political consulting firm with Moore, Wood said in her profile that she was a former 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 and worked to prevent the passage of a state ballot proposal that sought to invalidate same-sex marriages.

“Together, they organized, changed hearts and minds, and helped create a world where the person you love does not restrict your freedoms,” Lee said. “Both Peggy and Hope have had an impact on our community, our city, our state and our nation that will be felt for generations to come.”