Crash Caught On Video Illustrates Dangerous Illegal Turns Near Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- Drivers surprised by a new exit location were trying to avoid driving over the Golden Gate Bridge after they miss the last San Francisco exit by making a risky, illegal turn which could prove disastrous as one incident illustrated Monday.
Construction crews moved back the last San Francisco exit an extra 1,000 feet before the bridge last week to add safety shoulders and landscaping to the ongoing Doyle Drive/Presidio Parkway reconstruction project.
Drivers, including San Francisco Muni bus drivers, caught off-guard by the move have been turning right into a traffic lane to avoid driving onto the bridge. Drivers who miss the last San Francisco exit have to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and pay the $7 toll to make it back to the city.
Watch Crash at Golden Gate Bridge approach caused by driver making illegal turn.
KPIX 5 cameras were rolling when two Prius cars collided into one another after one attempted to make an illegal right before the toll plaza.
The driver making the illegal right turn had a younger woman in the passenger seat, both of them were able to walk out of their car without assistance. The driver of the other Prius is an adult male and was taken away on a stretcher with a neck brace on. Emergency responders say he complained of chest pain.
Later, it was determined two people suffered minor injuries, one from each vehicle, and both were expected to recover fully.
Officials with the Presidio Parkway project said last week they sent out an "e-blast" of emails and alerts to media and transit agencies letting people know about the moving exit.
Following Monday's crash, crews extended concrete barrier segments to prevent more illegal turns.
The work, expected to last about a month, is part of a phased project to add safety shoulders and landscaping as part of the Doyle Drive replacement project, due to be completed in 2016.
