The driver of a van who fatally struck an 87-year-old pedestrian in a crosswalk in San Francisco’s Richmond District last Wednesday has been arrested for felony vehicular manslaughter, a police spokeswoman said today.
San Francisco resident Daniel Schultz, 40, was booked this morning on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter, according to San Francisco police spokeswoman Officer Grace Gatpandan.
Shortly after 10:45 a.m. last Wednesday, San Francisco resident Alfred Yee was struck at Geary Boulevard and 26th Avenue, according to police.
Yee was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.
Investigators determined Yee was walking north across Geary Boulevard in the crosswalk when Schultz made a left turn from 26th Avenue and struck him, according to police.
Schultz stopped at the scene but was not arrested until today, police said.
“Someone wasn’t paying attention and we have to hold them accountable,” San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said Thursday.
San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar, who represents the Richmond District, said today that Yee was a retired architect with a wife and son. Yee enjoyed practicing tai chi each morning and had a passion for cooking.
According to Mar, Yee’s wife, Evelyn Yee, said her husband was very cautious when crossing streets.
Nicole Schneider, the executive director of the pedestrian advocacy group Walk San Francisco, said in a statement that Yee’s death marks the first pedestrian to be killed by “traffic violence” in 2015.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Walk SF have deemed Geary Boulevard a high-injury corridor.
To support Vision Zero, San Francisco’s goal to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2024, pedestrian safety projects on Geary Boulevard were completed on Thursday.
But Walk SF is urging the city to further increase infrastructure goals to ensure that the city is on a trajectory for achieving Vision Zero.
Walk SF is also urging the city to fund a Safe Streets for Seniors program, to support senior pedestrian safety including increased senior zones and outreach to senior communities.
Schneider said an average of three pedestrians are hit every day by vehicles in San Francisco and that more must be done to prevent such tragedies.
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
