Woman Driving Along Freeway Shot to Death

A large caliber bullet shattered the window of a car traveling along Interstate 580 on Thursday, killing a 36-year-old woman computer operator, police said.

The body of Lori Anne Rochon of Oakland was found inside her car, which had rolled to a halt against a guard rail at the Grand Avenue overpass about 3:20 a.m., with the gearshift lever still in the “drive” position, officers said.

“It appears the bullet was fired from outside her car,” homicide Sgt. Robert Chenault said. “We don’t know if the shot was fired from a passing auto or from the side of the freeway. We also don’t know if this was an intentional or random shooting.”

Rochon, who was employed by Kaiser Engineers, died from a bullet wound in her right side.

Last December, a 53-year-old computer analyst from nearby Newark was shot to death from another car as he drove along a freeway after celebrating his 29th wedding anniversary in San Francisco. His wife managed to grab the steering wheel and bring the car to a halt. The suspect in the slaying told police he thought the man was driving too slowly.