What is going on with buses and pedestrians here in San Francisco? Today, a 51 year old woman was jogging in San Francisco early this morning when she was struck and killed by a Golden Gate Transit bus traveling through a busy intersection. This most recent San Francisco pedestrian fatality happened at Van Ness and Lombard. I drive this intersection all the time and have for most of my life, and I have to say that the sight lines are very clear in almost all directions. Sure, the intersection is very busy, however this Golden Gate Transit driver must have driven this route many times before and he must have known about the features of this intersection. So, why are buses in San Francisco running over pedestrians so often these days? What distractions face bus drivers today? What can we learn from one more pedestrian death? I am going to start going to SF Supervisor’s meetings again, and I am going to try to learn what the City is doing to improve the infrastructure to reduce pedestrian fatalities. Remember last year when the Supervisors said they were working toward a Zero Tolerance for pedestrian deaths? Some serious changes need to be made as our City is becoming one of the most dangerous places to walk in the country.
According to San Francisco Police, at approximately 6:15am the GGT Novato to San Francisco bus, carrying about 30 people on board, was turning left onto Van Ness Avenue from Lombard when the bus struck the jogger.
The woman, who has not been identified, was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital where she was pronounced dead. No other injuries to the driver or to the passengers were reported.
The driver of the bus remained at the scene, and police hope to use the bus’ front facing camera to determine exactly what happened.
The intersection has traffic signals, as well as marked crosswalks and posted signage, and the jogger appears to have been in or near a crosswalk when the accident occurred. The police could not comment as to whether the bus had a red or green light.
The driver, a 35 year veteran of transit operations, has an excellent driving record with no major pedestrian accidents. He had been driving the same route for four years.
“He is very shaken up,” Clemens, a spokesperson for the Golden Gate Transit agency, said of the driver. “All our hearts at Golden Gate Transit go out to this woman’s family and we are cooperating fully with the police to learn what happened in this collision.”
According to Clemens, the Golden Gate Transit buses have not had a fatal accident since 2002.
Although the buses may have an excellent accident history, and the driver may have a great driving record, it does not change the fact that someone died today. As a pedestrian accident attorney, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of the deceased jogger, and I hope that the police investigation is swift and conclusive. Driving in a city such as San Francisco requires extra caution, especially when you are operating a vehicle as large as a transit bus. As a custodian of not only those on board, but those with whom you share the road, you have a duty to ensure that everyone stays safe, and you must follow the rules of the road. If you have any information regarding this woman’s death, I encourage you to contact local law enforcement. Let’s help bring this to resolution, and provide some much needed closure to those left grieving.
Hello, I’m Claude Wyle, a San Francisco pedestrian accident attorney. Have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered here? Feel free to contact me or visit www.ccwlawyers.com
