Neighbors Say Intersection Where Elderly Woman Was Killed Crossing Street Near Stockton Tunnel Is Unsafe Due To Impatient Drivers
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS) -- A woman was struck and killed by a driver behind the wheel of an SUV Saturday morning, just in front of the Stockton Tunnel in San Francisco. The driver has been arrested for vehicular manslaughter.
The accident happened just before 10 a.m. near the intersection of Stockton and Sacramento streets in the city's Chinatown district.
A large group of people looked on as police collected evidence, and shut down the intersection for at least two hours.
A shopping bag and a purse stop lay near the spot where the woman was killed crossing the street.
Police said the SUV was making a left turn onto Stockton when it hit the woman.
"We're going to make a determination as to what signal lights were green and if there was a red hand up," said SFPD Captain David Lazar. "On some of the blocks on Stockton street, the light may be green, but the hand is red."
Neighbors said this intersection is notorious for congestion, speeding and impatient drivers. Those factors are a recipe for disaster here because there are so many elderly pedestrians.
Police said the woman lived in the area. They have not released her name, but said she is in her 60s.
A man who wished to remain anonymous said he talked to a witness who told him the SUV had the green light.
"Apparently, according to the person who saw what happened, the driver did not wait for the lady to fully get across the street," he said.
Police said the driver of the SUV is cooperating with the investigation. They are asking any witnesses to the accident to call its tip line.