An elderly pedestrian was killed in a tour bus accident in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood over the weekend. The man was a longtime San Francisco teacher who was beloved by his friends and neighbors. This is the second injury crash involving a San Francisco tour bus in two months.
The crash was reported around 1 p.m. on Saturday at Post and Divisadero Streets. The victim was crossing Post Street at a red light. Witnesses say that the man had been waving and shouting at the driver shortly before his death. He was hit and killed by a Hop-on Hop-off Tour Bus. Although an investigation is still ongoing, police believe that the man may have been crossing against a red light. Police plan on reviewing any surveillance footage available, and have been speaking with witnesses.
One witness says that an elderly man was at an intersection, shouting and waving his arms. The witness became distracted, and when he looked again the man was no longer visible. He heard people shouting and honking, but the bus kept travelling with the man trapped underneath. The man suffered fatal head injuries. The witness says he does not know why the driver did not see him, unless he was not paying attention. The bus driver was not apparently under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In 2014, there was also a death in San Francisco involving a tour vehicle and a pedestrian. A city worker was struck and killed by a cable car while in a crosswalk. This accident comes at the same time state legislators have been seeking for tougher regulations on the tour bus industry. In November, a City Sightseeing bus crashed in Union Square after suffering mechanical problems. Twenty people were injured, and seven of those people had critical injuries. The bus had not been inspected by the California Highway Patrol and also was not registered with state regulators, in violation of the law.
It’s unclear exactly why this accident occurred, but it’s likely that the bus driver simply did not see the pedestrian. Pedestrian accidents are unfortunately all too common in San Francisco. With large numbers of tourists and other pedestrians, a large population, large numbers of vehicles, and poorly designed intersections come a propensity for pedestrian accidents. On average, over 4,000 people are killed each year in the U.S. in pedestrian accidents. Although San Francisco has made efforts in recent years to make the city streets safer, there are still numerous pedestrian fatalities in San Francisco every year.
Those most at risk of being injured or killed in pedestrian accidents are the young and the elderly. Roughly 20 percent of pedestrian deaths occur to individuals over the age of 65. Children account for almost a quarter of those injured in pedestrian accidents.
If you or family member has been injured in a San Francisco pedestrian accident, you may choose to file a lawsuit against the driver. You may be entitled to damages, including your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, funeral bills, and more.
At Liberty Law, Micha Star Liberty and Seth I. Rosenberg believe that everyone who is injured in a San Francisco pedestrian accident should explore his or legal options. Call the dedicated San Francisco pedestrian accident attorneys at Liberty Law at 415-896-1000 or 510-645-1000 to learn about how we can help you after your accident. We work with clients throughout the Bay area, including Tracy, Hayward, Oakland, Fairfield, San Jose, Berkeley, Sacramento, and the surrounding areas. Call today to schedule a free consultation on your case.
