SF hit-and-run driver who struck middle school student in crosswalk arrested
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A driver who allegedly stuck two pedestrians and led police on a wild chase through the streets of San Francisco was arrested Tuesday morning. San Francisco Police Department officers were alerted at around 7:53 a.m. regarding a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle in the area of Jones and Market streets.
Officers were advised that the vehicle struck the pedestrian and fled the scene, according to police. The suspect vehicle’s license plate number was disseminated to officers in the area.
A short while later, officers on patrol in the Tenderloin located the pedestrian in the initial incident. The victim works for Urban Alchemy, according to San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin. Officers rendered aid, paramedics arrived on the scene and the victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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The suspect vehicle was observed continuing to drive recklessly, committing multiple traffic violations, according to police. SFPD attempted a traffic stop near Leavenworth and Eddy streets, but the vehicle failed to yield.
A pursuit ensued, during which the suspect vehicle struck a 14-year-old girl near the 2100 block of Powell Street outside Francisco Middle School, and again fled the scene. The second victim was also treated at the scene before being transported by paramedics to the hospital with a fractured shoulder and ankle.
The San Francisco Unified School District confirmed that the girl who was struck was a student at Francisco Middle School who was walking in the crosswalk on their way to class when they were struck. The student is in stable condition and is with their family, according to SFUSD.
The pursuit was canceled due to the safety risk the fleeing suspect presented to the public, SFPD said.
The suspect continued to strike parked and unoccupied vehicles, police said. However, there were no reports of additional injuries.
The pursuit ended at Green and Embarcadero streets where the suspect was arrested without further incident, police said. Video shot by KRON4 at the scene showed the driver being loaded into the back of a paramedics’ vehicle after being handcuffed and taken into custody.
The suspect, police said, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries that were unrelated to the incident.
According to Peskin, the suspect is known to police and has a criminal record.
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