Photo by Derek
On Friday afternoon around 4pm, a cyclist was struck by a driver at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Geary.
According to one reader, a SUV driving westbound on Geary ran a red light and hit a cyclist riding southbound on 7th Avenue.
Witness Vincent Scully, who was driving behind the SUV saw the driver run the red light and honked his horn to warn her but it was too late. Scully said he didn’t know there was anyone in front of the SUV until he saw the bicyclist falling into the intersection.
The driver of the SUV did stop at the scene of the accident and cooperate with police.
SFGate reports that the mother suffered a broken leg and the toddler suffered bumps and bruises. Both were transported to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment and are expected to survive.
Police blocked traffic on Geary between 6th and 7th Avenue in the westbound direction as well as traffic on 8th Avenue while the accident scene was investigated.
Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information call the anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with “SFPD” at the beginning of the message.
Thanks to reader Derek for the report.
Sarah B.
Photo by Derek
Photo by Derek
Terrible story. Hope everyone is ok. There was a similar collision on Geary at 25th this past Sunday, 2/15. We weren’t close enough to see if it was a cyclist or motorcycle driver. Any word on this accident? We heard the impact – terrible. Traveling on Geary is every person for her/himself these days…
This driver needs to lose her license. Such irresponsibility is inexcusable.
I do hope everyone recovers and is ok from their injuries.
That said, something does not “feel” right with the information reported on here. It appears from the witness statements that the driver ran the red light. Probably just as it turned red as the car behind saw the light turn they say.
If that is the case then how is it that the bicyclists were in the intersection? If they were stopped at the cross street with one foot down waiting for the light, as one is supposed to, there is little chance they would be that far out onto Geary in time to get hit. Particularly with a little kid in tow.
Either the driver really blew the light by 5 or 10 seconds or the riders where moving through the cross walk while their side was still red. The timing and the physics of it don’t add up at this point.
One should not assume fault with the limited information reported.
Here’s a report from KPIX ch. 5
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/11160627-suv-hits-mom-and-toddler-on-geary-blvd-in-san-francisco/
How awful. No matter how much of a hurry you’re in, getting their faster is not worth risking someone’s life. I’m sorry the mother was hurt but glad she and her child will recover.
Glad the mother and child are on the road to recovery.
Scary.
Thanks @Derek for posting the KPIX news clip. I’m glad Mom & toddler are OK (i.e. alive!) and thankful there was a bystander who was a doctor and could tend to the injured right away!
I wonder if these new traffic signal trackers had anything to do with the accident – not putting blame on anyone, but from my observation as a driver and pedestrian, the trackers have made for interesting traffic patterns and incidents.
Please, let’s all just take a second to slow down whether on foot, bike, or car!
Another accident NOT prevented by the nearby red light cameras and the 15,000 tickets they issued last year.
Next, the mayor and Vision Zero are asking for state legislation to allow the robotic enforcement of speed limits (photo radar). Look for a bill to show up in Sacramento in the next month or so.
@JD
You really want to blame the bicyclist when a witness openly says that the SUV ran the light and hit her? You run a red light, you hit someone, you’re at fault.
The timing estimate you gave makes the assumption that the bicyclist reached the light while it was red and waited. Just as possible that as the bicyclist approached the intersection at speed, the light changed and she didn’t stop.
Also, according to the witness in the second car, he had time to notice what the SUV was doing and honk his horn. Doesn’t sound like pushing a light that just changed (which is JUST AS ILLEGAL and incredibly dangerous anyway).
I don’t want to blame anyone. I want to know what the facts are. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously bad. It will be interesting to see the final police report.
I can state that at both the 4-way stop sign intersection in front of our residence and on the occasions that I participated in traffic calming events with the SFPD while on the Richmond Precinct Advisory Committee that a much larger percentage of bicyclists fail to obey the vehicle code than do drivers of automobiles.
Just given that fact, I would look just as carefully at any bicyclist’s behavior as a drivers behavior in an accident no matter the circumstances.
I’m the driver who was directly behind the vehicle that ran the red light. (Last name spelled with a c not a k) I was about 2 to 3 car lengths behind her with plenty of time to stop. I saw her continue through the intersection and sounded my horn. I didn’t see the mom and and toddler on the bike intil they were on their way to the ground. I don’t know if she hit her breaks or not but I’m sure the SFPD could determine that.
This is very sad!
Good collection of pics, hope everyone recovers!
There seems to be a misunderstanding with the words “blaming the victim.”
The victim wasn’t doing anything wrong, she had the right of way, and the driver was clearly at fault, at least at this point. However, it’s unwise to bike on Geary. It’s too dangerous. Pointing this out isn’t blaming the victim.
If I leave my window rolled down in a bad neighborhood with an iPad on my seat, and I come back to find it gone, I’m a victim of theft. I’m not at fault, and saying I’m at fault for leaving the window rolled down is blaming the victim. Nevertheless, it is clearly unwise for me to leave my window rolled down with an iPad visible. In fact, one could say I was stupid for leaving my window rolled down. Pointing this out isn’t blaming the victim.
Likewise, it’s pretty foolish to bike down Geary with a kid. It’s dangerous, there’s waaay too much traffic, often moving at speeds above the speed limit. Cars make turns and swerve all the time on that street. There’s safer streets travelling west a block in either direction, although Clement is only marginally more safe than Geary. It’s not the woman’s fault that she was hit; shes the victim and I am happy she’s OK.
Nevertheless, it’s generally unwise to bike down Geary when there are safer options..
The biker was crossing Geary, not riding on it.
She was also passing through green, first crossing all the eastbound lanes, which where all correctly stopped waiting for a red traffic light, she entered the westbound lanes, this car ignored the light, resulting in the biker getting hit on her right side.
The driver was clearly at fault.
Agree 100?
@ J
There seems to be a misunderstanding with the words “bike on Geary”
Firstly, The witnesses from the behind said she ran a red light, but driver who got into a accident …. the lights was probably turning to red (probably still at yellow)
Like most people would ask, Did the cyclist follow the road rules?
I am the driver who was behind the red light runner. There was plenty of time to stop and when I saw she wasn’t I sounded my horn to get hers and others attention. The sun was not a factor as I was able to see the light with no problem. A couple of questions come to mind. Why was she unable to see that the light was red? Perhaps she did! Plus, why was she unable to she the bicyclist in time to stop? Distracted??
She did, i was a pedestrian that crossed the same direction, she entered the intersection. a couple of seconds after me.
Anyway, it will all be in the police report.
Forgot to mention…there was a driver heading south on 7th ave. with the green light and had to stop because she was entering the intersection against the red light.
I do hope SFPD takes a look at her phone records. As a non-driver/non-cyclist. I am utterly dismayed at the number of vehicle operators who prefer paying attention to devices than operating heavy equipment.
Having lived in The Richmond a very long time, I have seen an enormous increase not only in traffic, but in rude, impatient, distracted drivers–especially in the last few years. Also: many, many more SUVs and BMWs speeding, tailgating, and weaving in and out of lanes (they aren’t the only cars doing that, but I see more of them than any other type of vehicle, by far). What is wrong with you people?? I wish The Richmond District Police Department would triple the number of cops on patrol, especially during morning and afternoon rush-hours. It used to be that Geary was pretty quiet heading West after about 25th Ave in the morning. No more. It’s a wonder kids and crossing guards (bless these wonderful volunteers) don’t get hit by speeders in such a damned hurry. Slow the hell down! Mind the traffic signals and leave the walk-don’t walk pedestrian signs to….pedestrians. Why are drivers paying any attention to them in the first place? Traffic lights turn yellow before they turn red. What more do you need to know?
renee, I agree drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists all seem impatient. Driver frustration is probably linked to “traffic calming” devices which seem to only add frustration. Only people used to glacial pace working in institutions (govt., education) champion them. Likewise, travel lane removals increasing congestion again add to frustration. All this added stress is unhealthy to the great number of people who drive, offset by the fewer number bicycling on a lane stolen from sharing with motorists.
good job covering the story. hopefully everyone gets better soon