Two separate Muni crashes in San Francisco on August 1 have left at least 40 people injured, reports CBS San Francisco.
Both accidents happened within the same hour this afternoon, at around 1:30 p.m.: One at which a light-rail train collided with an 18-wheel big rig in Bayview at Third Street and Innes Avenue; the other in Japantown when an outbound 38-line bus and dump truck crashed on Geary Boulevard at Laguna Street.
In the Bayview accident, nine people were sent to local hospitals and 11 more injured, according to San Francisco Fire Department Lieutenant Mindy Talmadge. Talmadge tells the Chronicle that the Muni conductor had to be extricated from the train due to severe damages at its front. SFPD spokesman Albie Esparz says the big rig driver was at fault.
In Japantown, 20 people were injured and, of those, two are in critical condition and at least eight were taken to local hospitals.
Kale Williams of the Chronicle tweets from the Bayview scene:
Truck driver was making illegal left off of third, cut off train causing crash. No citation for driver yet, cops say. pic.twitter.com/ZtsFOFhViU
— Kale Williams (@sfkale) August 1, 2014
Sign prohibiting left turns clearly visible right next to point of impact. Rider said crash "felt like an earthquake" pic.twitter.com/sNleIBHVNC
— Kale Williams (@sfkale) August 1, 2014
Punctured fuel tank clearly visible as crews work to contain spilled diesel. pic.twitter.com/6ykcSygBVr
— Kale Williams (@sfkale) August 1, 2014
Expect Muni delays and continued updates from SFist.
