Heads up homeward commuters: several sources are reporting downed Muni cables have closed Market Street to traffic between Fifth and Sixth Streets. Emergency crews are currently on the scene, but at the moment Muni power is cut off from Third to Ninth Streets, as well as part of Mission. No buses are moving up or down Market Street in the area. Passengers should be advised to either head underground to the Muni Metro to avoid the mess topside or find an alternate, non-Market Street route home.
The official word from Muni:
ATTN: Due to overhead lines down on Market/5th sts, #SFMuni power lost on Market btwn 3rd & 9th and Mission btwn 4th and 9th.
— SFMTA (@sfmta_muni) June 4, 2012
Update 5pm: According to one witness, the power lines struck a car and landed in a crosswalk as they fell. ABC7 is now reporting that at least three people were injured, while KTVU reports a possible fourth:
UPDATE: 3 people injured by the downed Muni lines at 5th & Market. Market between 4th & 6th, 5th between Eddy & Mission shut down. #breaking
— abc7newsBayArea (@abc7newsBayArea) June 5, 2012
Breaking: Muni lines have fallen injuring at least 4 people at 5th and Market. We have a crew on the scene. More coverage at 5.
— KTVU (@KTVU) June 4, 2012
Muni also reports the F Line is switching back on both ends of the outage: near the Ferry Building as well as 11th and Market. All buses in the area are being re-routed:
UPDATE: all #SFMuni bus service in affected area on Market street is being rerouted.
— SFMTA (@sfmta_muni) June 4, 2012
Bay City News confirms with the Fire Department that at least two people were taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. According to local tweeter Doc Popular, who snapped the above photo of the scene at Fifth Street, the silver car in the middle of the picture was apparently struck by the falling power lines.
Update 5:45 p.m.: The Chronicle confirms a third injured person and mentions that one pedestrian, a woman in her twenties, was hit when a trolley bus snapped the live wire just after 4 p.m. today. Market Street remains closed to traffic between Fourth and Sixth Streets and is expected to stay closed through the remainder of rush hour.
Muni lines still affected by the outage: 6-Parnassus, 30-Stockton, 45-Union, 31-Balboa, 21-Hayes, 14-Mission, F-Market.
Update 7:40 p.m.: SFMTA reports the power outage has cleared. All buses and F line service have resumed, and shuttles will continue running until schedules are back to normal.
ATTN: Power outage due to a line down on Market st btwn Mason & 5th sts has cleared. All buses & F Line service resumes regular routes.
— SFMTA (@sfmta_muni) June 5, 2012