A San Francisco Police Department officer who recently entered field training was arrested early Saturday morning following a serious traffic collision in the Sunset District that left one person with life-threatening injuries and four others hurt, according to a news release from the SFPD.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:59 a.m. on May 17, 2025, at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Rivera Street. When officers arrived at the scene, they found two occupied vehicles had collided. The victim vehicle contained three adults, all of whom required transport to a local hospital. Among them, one person suffered life-threatening injuries while the other two sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The two occupants of the second vehicle also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported for medical treatment.
Through their investigation, responding officers determined that the driver of the second vehicle, identified as 28-year-old Ryan Kwong of San Francisco, was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Kwong, who is employed as an SFPD officer currently in field training, was placed under arrest and booked into San Francisco County Jail. He faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence causing injuries (23153 (a) CVC), as reported by the San Francisco Police Department.
SFPD Leadership Response
"This incident was incredibly tragic, and my heart goes out to the injured victims," said SFPD Chief Bill Scott in the news release. "We will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served in this case. No one is above the law, and our officers know they are expected to obey the law, as well as our strict code of conduct even while off duty."
The intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Rivera Street has been the site of previous traffic incidents, though not necessarily DUI-related. Located in the Sunset District, this major thoroughfare sees substantial traffic and has been part of ongoing traffic safety discussions in the city. The City of San Francisco has historically identified Sunset Boulevard as part of the High Injury Network – streets with the highest concentration of severe and fatal traffic injuries, according to traffic safety records.
DUI Statistics and Enforcement in San Francisco
The San Francisco Police Department has been actively conducting DUI enforcement operations throughout 2025. Earlier this year, on February 9, March 15, and April 12, the department conducted DUI saturation patrols and checkpoints as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce impaired driving. According to statistics cited by the SFPD, "crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized DUI checkpoints and proactive DUI patrols are conducted routinely," as stated in a March 12, 2025 SFPD news release.
Recent data from the department reveals that approximately 30 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. Additionally, research indicates that more drivers tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than for alcohol (7.3 percent), according to multiple SFPD checkpoint announcements from earlier this year.
Legal Implications for Officers
The case raises questions about accountability within law enforcement. In California, DUI causing injury is a serious offense that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances and the extent of injuries. Penalties may include jail or prison time, substantial fines, driver's license suspension, mandatory DUI education programs, and probation.
For police officers, such charges can have additional professional consequences, potentially affecting their employment status. According to California law, drivers caught driving impaired "can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000," as noted in a recent SFPD statement.
This is not the first time an SFPD officer has faced DUI charges. In a previous case from 2013, an SFPD sergeant pleaded no contest to DUI charges after a crash in the Inner Sunset neighborhood, receiving three years of probation, according to NBC Bay Area.
Field Training Officer Program
As a recently entered field training officer, Kwong would have been participating in the department's structured training program designed to transition academy graduates to full duty. The SFPD's Field Training Office oversees this critical phase where new officers apply classroom knowledge to real-world policing under the supervision of experienced trainers. The program typically involves several phases with increasing responsibility as recruits demonstrate proficiency.
Ongoing Investigation
The SFPD stated that although an arrest has been made, this remains an open and active investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
