What was supposed to be a quiet early morning in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset turned into a smoky, screeching mess on Saturday, after a sideshow ripped through Kirkham Street and ended with a rented U-Haul truck in flames. Neighbors reported fireworks, what they believed might have been gunfire, and hundreds of spectators crowding the block as cars spun and revved, leaving parked vehicles damaged and residents rattled.
Police Say Driver Detained After Truck Erupts in Flames
According to the San Francisco Police Department, officers were called around 4:24 a.m. for reports of reckless driving and fireworks near Kirkham and La Playa. When they arrived, they found a burning U-Haul box truck close to 48th Avenue and Kirkham. Officers detained a driver who, they say, matched the description of one of the suspected arsonists and had the truck towed, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Fire Investigators Probe Blaze as Possible Arson
San Francisco firefighters put out the flames engulfing the truck, and investigators are now treating the fire as suspicious while they look into possible arson. Video that residents shared shows people climbing onto vehicles and setting off fireworks in the street, a chaotic scene documented by SFist.
Neighbors Say They Waited as Sideshow Raged
Several residents told reporters they repeatedly tried 911 as the sideshow unfolded and say they waited roughly 20 to 30 minutes for officers to show up. “I called the police, and they took a half hour to get here,” neighbor Dennis Gallagher said. Neighbors estimated the crowd in the hundreds and reported people climbing on cars and launching fireworks in the middle of Kirkham Street, according to NBC Bay Area.
Supervisor Wong Meets Residents, Points to Tougher Penalties
District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong met with neighbors later Saturday and called the sideshow “dangerous” and unacceptable on residential streets. City officials say the San Francisco Police Department’s Stunt Driving Response Unit is now investigating. The city recently increased the maximum fine for misdemeanor participation in sideshows to $1,000, under legislation co-sponsored by Wong, officials told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Residents Want More Than Just Tickets
Neighbors have floated quick infrastructure fixes such as speed bumps or small roundabouts to make stunt driving harder, but many say that consistent enforcement and faster emergency response are at the top of their list. The Sunset has already seen sideshow activity earlier this year, and residents are hoping a mix of street design changes and policing will be enough to keep future takeovers at bay, as noted by SFist.
Arson Probe Could Bring Serious Charges
With investigators treating the truck fire as suspicious, potential arson and vandalism charges are on the table as the San Francisco Fire Department and SFPD continue their joint probe. Officials say the Stunt Driving Response Unit is tracking down participants and can move to impound vehicles. Neighbors, meanwhile, are pushing for both criminal accountability and concrete engineering fixes to keep dangerous sideshows out of their residential streets, per SFGATE.
