San Francisco Hit-And-Run Involving Pedicab Seriously Injures 5
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Police in San Francisco are searching for a suspect vehicle in a hit-and-run crash along the Embarcadero involving a pedicab that left five people -- including two children -- with injuries, according to authorities.
The collision happened near Pier 29 on the Embarcadero at about 4:15 p.m., authorities said. According to the San Francisco Fire Department, five people sustained serious injuries. Two of those injured were children, one a five-year-old, the other an eight-year-old.
All five victims were transported to an area hospital.
The San Francisco Fire Department's public information Twitter account posted about the collision shortly after 5 p.m.
Video shot by a KPIX 5 cameraman showed a T-Mobile bike taxi that had its left wheel bent underneath the carriage that holds the passengers.
Police later clarified that the pedicab was carrying a family of four. The pedicab operator sustained life-threatening injuries, according to SFPD spokesperson Officer Grace Gatpandan. The four family members including the two children ages five and eight sustained non-life threatening injuries, she said.
KPIX 5 later learned that the family was visiting from Vancouver, British Colombia.
A friend of the pedicab operator who identified himself as Paul said that the accident has shaken the community of pedicab drivers who work the Embarcadero.
"He's improving, but non-responsive," said Paul. "Still in a coma. Fractured skull, bleeding in the brain. It's not pretty."
Police are asking for help locating the car that struck the pedi-cab. The driver of the car drove away after the collision and was last
seen heading toward the Bay Bridge.
"The vehicle kept going toward the Bay Bridge. It's described as a light-colored sedan, possibly tan or possibly gold. It's unclear what color it is. But this is a hit-and-run investigation,: said Gatpandan.
Authorities reopened the Embarcadero at about 9:30 p.m., a little over five hours after the accident happened.
