Fleeing theft suspect dead, 2 San Francisco police officers injured after being struck by vehicle

Two police officers and a theft suspect they were chasing in San Francisco were struck by a passing vehicle Friday morning, leaving the suspect dead both officers injured.

The incident happened just after 7:30 a.m. in the area of California and Hyde streets in the city's Nob Hill neighborhood. The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded to a theft report at a Trader Joe's store and arrived to encounter a suspect. The suspect resisted officers and ran away, with the officers giving chase, police said. 

Two officers chased the suspect into the street when all three were hit by a vehicle unrelated to the theft, with the crash leaving one officer pinned under the vehicle, police said.

Firefighters extricated the officer from under the vehicle and medics took all three to the hospital. Police said that the theft suspect was declared at the hospital, while both officers were being treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

The driver remained at the scene of the crash and was cooperating with the investigation.

A police spokesman said officers were already at the Trader Joe's location to investigate the vandalism of a Tesla sedan that was set on fire. 

"The officers were here responding to a report of an arson, and while they were out here they also responded to the report of a theft," said police spokesperson Officer Robert Rueca. "These two we don't know if they are related or not. That is all still under investigation."

Rueca did not identify the suspect, saying only he was an adult male. The two officers were not identified.

A spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Officers Association said both officers sustained leg injuries and were expected to recover.

Traffic on California Street, including the California cable car line, was blocked for several hours during the investigation.

This is a breaking news update. More information to be added as available.