Former SF Firefighter Hit With Drunk Driving Charges For On-The-Job Collision

Charges were filed today against a former San Francisco firefighter who was arrested on suspicion of DUI in June 2013 after a crash involving a motorcycle and the fire truck he was driving, a district attorney’s office spokesman said.

Police arrested 43-year-old Michael Quinn following the collision on June 28, 2013 and he was booked into jail on suspicion of DUI and leaving the scene of a collision, according to police.

Quinn was released from jail following his arrest in July, the sheriff’s office said.

The collision occurred on a Saturday night at about 11:30 p.m. at Fifth and Howard streets in the city’s South of Market neighborhood. The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries, police said.

Prosecutors did not immediately move forward with a case against Quinn, district attorney’s spokesman Alex Bastian said.
The case was discharged pending further investigation, Bastian said in July.

Quinn was indicted today on three felony counts, including driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher causing injury, and driving a commercial motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .04 percent or higher causing injury, Bastian said.

He surrendered to district attorney investigators today. His bail was set at $100,000 and he was promptly bailed out, according to Bastian.

His arraignment is expected to be held as early as Wednesday, the district attorney’s office said.

In the days following the collision and arrest, fire officials said that Quinn, who was placed on leave without pay, was a 23-year veteran of the department and worked at Station 1, located at 935 Folsom St.

Quinn had no disciplinary record and had received two merit awards for his actions as a firefighter, said Tom O’Connor, president of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798, the union representing the city’s firefighters.

Hannah Albaraz/Dan McMenamin, Bay City News

Please make sure your comment adheres to our comment policy. If it doesn't, it may be deleted. Repeat violations may cause us to revoke your commenting privileges. No one wants that!