Sunday services in Bernal Heights took a terrifying turn when a car plowed into Good Hope Baptist Church at 551 Nevada Street, injuring seven people and forcing an evacuation of the building, according to officials.
The crash happened around 1:20 p.m., and emergency crews rushed to the narrow residential block to treat the injured, clear debris, and make sure the building was stable before allowing anyone back inside.
The San Francisco Fire Department reported that seven people were hurt in the collision and three were transported to local hospitals for further treatment, as reported by KRON4. The department also released photos and video from the scene showing firefighters working around the damaged entrance.
The Building at 551 Nevada Street
The crash site is a mixed-use property that houses Good Hope Baptist Church on the ground floor with residential units above, according to LoopNet. The address sits in Bernal Heights near the J-Church Muni line, and the surrounding street was temporarily blocked while firefighters and inspectors did their work.
Investigation and Safety Checks
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection was called out to assess whether the structure had been compromised. Inspectors later determined the building was safe, officials said.
The San Francisco Police Department has opened an investigation into how the crash happened, as reported by KRON4. Police told the outlet that the driver is associated with the church address, although no names or additional identifying details have been released.
What We Know Now
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the conditions of the seven injured people beyond confirming that three were taken to area hospitals, and four were treated on scene. Investigators are expected to review evidence from the site along with any available video footage.
