Girl among two pedestrians struck by reckless driver during downtown SF police pursuit
SAN FRANCISCO – Police in San Francisco arrested a driver after he allegedly struck two pedestrians, including a juvenile, along with several parked vehicles while fleeing from officers Tuesday morning.
Shortly after 7:50 a.m., officers were called to the area of Jones and Market streets in the city's Tenderloin after the driver struck the pedestrian and fled the scene.
Officers found the pedestrian and rendered aid to the victim. The pedestrian was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Police were able to obtain the suspect vehicle's license plate. Officers soon spotted the driver, who was seen driving recklessly and attempted to pull over the driver near Leavenworth and Eddy streets.
The driver refused to yield and led officers on a pursuit, police said.
During the pursuit, the driver struck a juvenile near the 2100 block of Powell Street in North Beach.
The driver was then seen striking other vehicles. Police canceled the pursuit, citing safety risks.
Officers eventually located the vehicle near Embarcadero and Green Street and were able to take the driver into custody. The driver was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Police identified the suspect as 54-year-old Jefferson Rodney.
There were no further reports of injuries. Police did not release the driver's name.
Authorities told CBS News Bay Area that the juvenile victim was a 14-year-old girl and that she was struck outside the Francisco Middle School campus. The San Francisco Unified School District later confirmed that the girl was a Francisco Middle School student.
After rendering aid, police and paramedics took the girl to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Pam Longino, a San Francisco grandmother, was dropping off her grandson at Francisco Middle School when she saw the chaotic sequence of events unfold right before her eyes.
"This car comes up there by the stop sign, but he didn't stop and turned the corner right there. And it was like he was losing control of his car, and then I saw the side view mirror, and I saw the child in the crosswalk. And then I opened my door and before I got out he had hit the child," Longino recounted.
Other parents at the school, like Maria Flores, were also deeply affected. Flores shared an email from the school informing parents about the hit-and-run and.
"When I received the email, I got very nervous because my child is also here. It's terrible. I can only imagine what the parents are going through," Flores said.
In response to the incident, the San Francisco Unified School District released a statement.
"We know that some students witnessed this happen, and we are providing support to our students as needed. School activities are continuing at this time," the district said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call San Francisco Police at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411, beginning the message with "SFPD".
