RichmondSFBlog reader Derek sent in this photo of a downed light pole on Clement between 5th and 6th Avenues. We’re not sure when it actually went down or if any parked cars (or pedestrians!) were damaged in the process.
Keep your eyes open out there, folks!
UPDATE:
RichmondSFBlog reader Kenny sent in this eyewitness account of the incident:
Sitting in my parked car this morning, on Clement Street, enjoying a cup of slow brew from Toy Boat Cafe (best coffee shop in town!)
All of a sudden, I hear a snap, I look up, and I see the streetlight pole directly in front of me breaking off of its foundation and crashing, to its left, to the sidewalk.
Miraculously, it did not hit any cars or any pedestrians on its way down. If it had fallen forward, instead of to the left, I might not be sitting here right now telling you this story.
Wow. It’s all so tenuous, isn’t it? But we already knew that, didn’t we? Thank you, G-d, for sparing me and others from what might have been a truly disastrous situation.
Also, I don’t think it had anything to do with “blustery weather.” Weather was pretty calm this morning. If you look at the pics, the foundation/base just looks pretty corroded. I’m fairly confident that it just gave way.
Glad you are alright Kenny!
Sarah B.
P.S. – I reported this to 311. Hopefully it will get cleaned up soon if it hasn’t been already.
Was this the result of the wind, or could it have been vandalism???
I can’t really say which but I’d guess the wind, the banner attached to it could’ve caught a breeze just right.
This because when I snapped the pics I didn’t see any evidence of a collision or damage that could’ve been caused by vandalism.
Then again I’m not a CSI…..
Holy cow! I live right around the corner from there. The wind has been blowing hard lately.
It seems to have fallen the wrong way if it was hit by a car. Then again, the wind has been blowing from the West, and you can see a green awning with the word “BAR” on it at the top left. That’s the Bitter End. So this pole fell in the direction the wind has usually been blowing.
This pole is right between Bitter End and Toy Boat. In fact, the top of the pole is probably right in front of fish and flowers. I walk there with my 4yo boy all the time.
Maybe they should take those banners off the poles if they act like sails.
Looks like the end where it goes into the flange is all corroded almost like it was made of aluminum. That new car was awfully lucky.