Three bicyclists remain hospitalized today, one in critical condition, in San Francisco as police continue to search for a male driver believed to have deliberately targeted them late Wednesday night.
In all, four male bicyclists were struck by the motorist within a six-minute period in the city’s Mission and Potrero Hill neighborhoods, according to police.
The first bicyclist was hit at 9:43 p.m. in the 2700 block of Harrison Street, police said. The next three were struck in the 2800 block of Harrison Street, at the intersection of 23rd and Pennsylvania streets, and at 17th and Missouri streets.
The driver of a blue Nissan Rogue believed responsible for all four attacks crashed into a pole after hitting the fourth bicyclist, police said. The driver, described only as a white male, ran off.
Three of the four victims were taken to San Francisco General Hospital, the city’s only trauma center, a short distance away. The fourth was treated at the scene and released.
Hospital spokeswoman Rachael Kagan said this afternoon that the three men, whose ages range from the 20s to the 40s, will remain hospitalized at least overnight and are all expected to survive. One man is listed in critical condition, another in serious condition, and the third in fair condition.
The injuries ranged from broken bones, bruises and lacerations to internal injuries, Kagan said.
Kagan said the two men in serious and fair condition are both conscious and speaking but are “pretty shaken up.”
Police spokeswoman Lt. Lyn Tomioka said witnesses to the hit-and-run attacks described them as intentional.
“He changed lanes in traffic, he went on the wrong side of the street,” Tomioka said. “Witnesses said he was driving to try and hit the bicyclists.”
Mayor Gavin Newsom released a statement today condemning the incidents.
“I’m proud that San Francisco is one of the bike-friendliest cities in the nation and we work hard to keep our city safe for cyclists and pedestrians every day,” Newsom said.
“Cars and bikes share the road and must coexist,” he said. “We will not tolerate violence or rage against cyclists or pedestrians.”
Renee Rivera, executive director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said today that the coalition is “just really sad to hear about this tragedy, and our thoughts are really with the four people who were injured.”
Rivera said she hopes the case does not deter people from biking in the city.
“San Francisco is a really safe place to bike, and getting safer all the time,” she said.
Anyone who may have information about the incidents is urged to contact San Francisco police at (415) 575-4444 or by texting TIP-411.
