Six people were injured after a car crashed into a parklet in San Francisco's Mission District Sunday afternoon, fire officials told NBC Bay Area. Officials say that all six individuals are expected to survive.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, the vehicle involved in the crash was wanted in connection to a theft in Berkeley. SFPD said its officers spotted the vehicle at around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon near the Stonestown Galleria mall, but the driver failed to yield and fled. The officers then pursued the car in a chase through the city for several miles.
'“I can’t tell you if it was high-speed or not, but to my understanding, the speeds were about 45 miles per hour," said Lieutenant AJ Holder with San Francisco Police.
Holder said the vehicle also sideswiped another car in the Mission, causing minor damage, before crashing into the parklet at The Napper Tandy pub at 24th Street at South Van Ness.
The crash happened just as the Super Bowl game was about to start and the bar was filled with patrons ready to watch the game. Art Cristerna was inside The Napper Tandy at the time and he recalled hearing a loud "boom" that seemed to rattle the building.
"I heard a huge crash and I looked out the window and I see this car barreling past the parklet," Cristerna said.
Cristerna stepped outside to see what happened, and he recalled seeing two women running down the street and police officers jumping out of their squad cars to chase them.
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Police say six people were injured in the crash, including the two women who were inside the car. All six people were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover.
"It seems like everyone who was sent to the hospital is gonna be OK, which is such a relief, especially when we have a mom and child involved," said San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder, whose district includes the Mission. Fielder had been told that a mother and her child were injured in this crash.
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Fielder noted that last year, voters approved expanding the circumstances where police can pursue chases.
"So, the concern for me is, is this worth that policy -- and if that’s true it's related to a theft -- is that worth sending sex people to the hospital?" Fielder wondered out loud. She expects that city leaders will be discussing city pursuit policies and parklet safety in the coming days.
San Francisco Police arrested the two women who were in the car. It is unclear what charges they may face.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management posted on social media, asking the public to avoid the area of 24th Street between South Van Ness Avenue and Potrero Avenue as emergency crews responded to the incident.
"Motorists should expect traffic delays, consider alternate routes and allow for additional travel time," the department said on its social media page.
ALERTSF: Avoid the area of 24th Street between South Van Ness Avenue and Potrero Avenue due to Fire Activity. Emergency crews are on scene.
— San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (@SF_emergency) February 9, 2025
Expect traffic delays, consider alternate routes, and allow for additional travel time. For live traffic inf https://t.co/N7A6rvApqJ
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
