Oakland man’s death caused by ‘exploding airbag debris,’ coroner rules

HAYWARD — A popular karaoke jockey and Oakland resident died when the airbag in his vehicle exploded, causing a metal cap and other shrapnel to rip through his head, in what was only the latest fatality linked to the aftermarket products, according to public records.

Keith “Boski” Givens, 55, crashed his car into a parked car on Main Street in Hayward on Sept. 25, 2025. But the Alameda County coroner ruled it wasn’t the blunt force impact from the crash that caused his death, but rather the aftermarket airbag inside Givens’ vehicle that exploded with such force a police investigator compared it to the impact of a bomb in his police report.

The airbag was registered to Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System, Co., Ltd, a Chinese company that was the subject of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warning last week. The warning says the company, also known as DTN, has produced airbag systems that were responsible for 10 deaths and two instances where a person was severely injured.

“These dangerous, substandard air bag inflators malfunctioned in crashes, sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes and faces,” the NHTSA warning says. Similarly, Givens’ coroner’s report noted a metallic object had been “embedded into his skull” and listed the cause of death as “penetrating injury from exploding air bag debris.”

Givens was a fixture at the 3411 Lounge on MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland, where he was known for hosting karaoke nights and promoting activities at the venue. The lounge held a memorial for Givens last year, which encouraged patrons to “laugh, cry and sing a song for him.”

“You always looked out for us and you always had our back. You were a part of so many families and you will be greatly missed,” a post on the 3411 Lounge’s Instagram page says.

A representative for DTN did not return a request for comment. The company’s website has a disclaimer on the homepage stating that “we do not do business with the United States” and its products are “prohibited” from being sold there.

“Gas generators are dangerous. You must undergo rigorous experiments and tests before use and installation,” the disclaimer says.