Yesterday, on San Francisco's California Street cable car, it ended with sirens and flashing lights when a vehicle slammed into a cable car near California Street and Van Ness Avenue, injuring three adults with what officials described as minor injuries. The driver took off on foot, leaving the vehicle behind, as emergency crews rushed in and briefly shut down the intersection to assess the cable car and treat the injured.
The San Francisco Fire Department told NBC Bay Area the collision happened around 7:15 PM in the area of California Street and Van Ness and resulted in three minor injuries. As of the initial reports, the department had not released additional details.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that officers found the vehicle still at the scene, but the driver had fled on foot. Police were searching for the person on Sunday night and had not yet located the driver. It remained unclear whether the injured people were riding on the cable car or were in the other vehicle, the Chronicle noted.
Where the crash happened
The collision took place on the California Street cable car line near Van Ness Avenue, a major corridor that connects the Financial District and Nob Hill. According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the California line runs between Market Street and Van Ness and is one of the system's three historic cable car routes. The agency operates the cars and maintains the line's infrastructure.
Potential legal consequences
Under California law, Vehicle Code section 20001, as published by the California Legislature, makes leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury a "wobbler" offense that can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the extent of the harm. If only property damage is involved, Vehicle Code section 20002, detailed by the California Legislature, sets out stop and report requirements along with misdemeanor penalties for hit-and-run violations.
Police are still investigating the cable car crash, and officers were canvassing the neighborhood and reviewing available video footage, the Chronicle reported. Anyone with recordings or information about what happened is urged to contact the San Francisco Police Department.
