Actor accused of critically injuring bicyclist

A veteran actor sought for nearly killing a bicyclist in Berkeley while allegedly driving under the influence in February was arrested this morning, according to jail records.

Berwick Haynes, 47, was arrested at 8:15 a.m. and booked into Santa Rita Jail on $135,000 bail, according to jail records. He was charged on May 2 with felony driving under the influence of drugs and a warrant was issued for his arrest, prosecutors said.

Haynes, a Sunnyvale resident, was preparing for a play at the Berkeley Playhouse at the time of the Feb. 2 crash on Fulton Street near Bancroft Way. He hit Megan Schwartzman, a research scientist at the University of California at Berkeley, while they were both headed south on Fulton at about 5 p.m.

Schwarzman was dragged under Haynes’ car and pinned. Her husband, Mike Wilson, said the crash caused internal bleeding, 20 fractured ribs, a smashed pelvis, two partially collapsed lungs and complex facial fractures.

Haynes was initially arrested after the crash but later released, according to Berkeley police.

In addition to the Berkeley Playhouse, Haynes has appeared at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts in Berkeley, Marin Theatre Company in Mill Valley, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage in Oregon and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

Haynes is scheduled to appear in court on the charge on Wednesday.

Wilson went to the Berkeley City Council and advocated for a bike lane to be added to that stretch of Fulton. The council approved the plan and the new lane opened earlier this month.

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