CHP Shooting Shuts Down Eastbound Bay Bridge
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A California Highway Patrol officer investigating an early Sunday morning accident on the Bay Bridge wounded a driver who allegedly targeted him with his car, forcing the closure of all eastbound lanes of the bridge for several hours, authorities said.
Two eastbound lanes were finally re-opened around 8:40 a.m. and all lanes were reopened by 9:40 a.m.
According to the CHP, officers responded to two vehicle crash on the bridge near the toll plaza at around 3:15 a.m.
While they were investigating the crash and Caltrans crews were clearing the scene of debris and damaged vehicles, a red Cadillac began to approach the officers as they stood in the emergency lane on the shoulder of the bridge roadway.
"One of our officers spotted a red Cadillac that was traveling down the right shoulder," CHP officer Vu Williams told KCBS. "The Cadillac kept coming at them. Multiple verbal commands were given to the driver to stop. The driver failed to heed those commands and kept driving at the officer at which point the officer felt threatened and opened fire."
"The driver was struck (by the gunfire). I don't know how many times and the vehicle came to rest," Williams continued. "They got the driver out, rendered aid and he was taken to the hospital."
Williams said the Cadillac was not involved in the original collision.
"It wandered along quite a bit after the crash," he said. "We don't think it had any involvement in the collision."
The driver was wounded and taken to Highland Hospital. His condition was not immediately known. Several passengers in the car were not injured and were being questioned by police.
About 100 vehicles were trapped in the eastbound lanes by the closure. Several motorists on the bridge took to social media.
Hello to all the people sobering up and watching the sun rise together on the bay bridge.
— Mindy Tiffany (@mindytiffany) June 18, 2017
What a way to start off my morning... bay bridge is shut down cuz some dumbass wants to have a shootout with the police?? Wtf man!!
— Reaper510 (@BayAreaReaper) June 18, 2017
Nice drive home 4am behind a high speed chase &shootng on the bay bridge???? pic.twitter.com/GBIbcQgxet
— mara_amy (@mara_amy) June 18, 2017
I've been stuck on the bay bridge for at least 3 hours.. if anyone cares. ????
— LittleBody (@Ruthless_Mani) June 18, 2017
Long line of people trying to get onto the Bay Bridge eastbound. Police blocking all entrances to the bridge. pic.twitter.com/yq3KWpyIkg
— Kyle Madson (@KyleAMadson) June 18, 2017
The CHP was forcing drivers off eastbound 80 at the 4th Street exit. Drivers trapped on the bridge were allowed to drive the wrong way to Treasure Island and exit.
"We turned them around so they could travel westbound in the eastbound lanes," since those lanes were closed, and the motorists went to Treasure Island and then got on the westbound lanes and returned to San Francisco, Williams said.
Two AC Transit night owl buses also were caught on the bridge at the time of the shutdown, according to AC Transit spokesman Robert Lyles. Those buses made it to Treasure Island where they were able to turn around and go to San Francisco.
AC Transit's transbay buses - the F, the NL and the O lines - would still operate.
"We are asking that our riders be aware there is a delay and asking that our riders build in more time into their trips today," Lyles said.