10:36 AM: Two of the three San Francisco police officers who were injured in a crash in Potrero Hill early this morning remain hospitalized but the third has been released, a police spokesman said.
When the accident happened around 1:40 a.m., the officers were in an unmarked police car and were responding to a report of a man with a knife at 24th and York streets in the Mission District.
They were traveling south on Potrero Avenue when their blue Ford sedan struck a light pole on the southeast corner of the 19th Street intersection, police Sgt. Mike Andraychak said.
The three officers were taken to San Francisco General Hospital where one was in critical condition and another was in fair condition.
The third officer was treated and released after the crash.
All three are expected to survive, Andraychak said.
Police Chief Greg Suhr and Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White visited the officers in the hospital this morning, according to Andraychak.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. Drugs and alcohol are not considered factors in the crash, but the driver will undergo testing, as is standard procedure.
The crash is being investigated by the Police Department’s major accident investigation team and its hit-and-run detail, which investigates collisions involving serious injuries.
5:30 AM: Three police officers were hospitalized with minor injuries after an early morning car crash into a light pole in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood while responding to a situation in the Mission, a police sergeant said.
The officers were in an unmarked vehicle and responding to a call about a man with a knife at 24th and York streets around 1:42 a.m. They were traveling south on Potrero Avenue when their blue Ford sedan struck a light pole at the southeast side of the 19th Street intersection, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak.
The three uniformed men were taken to the hospital by ambulance with injuries not considered life-threatening, Andraychak said.
The police car sustained major damage while the pole remained upright.
San Francisco police Chief Greg Suhr and fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White responded to the incident and visited the officers in the hospital this morning, Andraychak said.
Potrero Avenue will remain closed between 18th and 21st streets until about 6 a.m. Muni and San Mateo County Transit bus lines may be affected by the temporary closure, Andraychak said.
The incident is being investigated by the department’s Major Accident Investigation Team and the Hit-and-Run detail, which investigates collision involving serious injuries.
Sobriety is not considered a factor in the crash, Andraychak said, but the driver will undergo testing. An administrative investigation of the collision is also underway.
The cause of the collision has not been determined.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News
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