A woman struck and killed by a car during a pursuit for three armed robbery suspects in San Francisco on Friday night has been identified today as 42-year-old Bridget Klecker, according to the San Francisco medical examiner’s office and police.
Police believe the three suspects committed multiple robberies with handguns throughout the city in the past few days and made at least three alone on Friday night, San Francisco police Officer Grace Gatpandan said.
The suspect car used in the robberies was described as a newer model black Toyota Corolla, she said.
Shortly before 10 p.m., the suspects conducted their last robbery of the night at Clay and Larkin streets in the city’s Nob Hill neighborhood, Gatpandan said.
A patrol officer spotted the Corolla blocks away heading north on Leavenworth Street at Pine Street, she said.
The officer attempted to make a high-risk felony stop on the vehicle with the assistance of other police units at California and Mason streets, but the suspect vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, Gatpandan said.
About four blocks east, the suspect car struck a woman at California and Kearny streets in the Financial District, according to Gatpandan.
The pedestrian, later identified as Klecker, was transported to San Francisco General Hospital where she was pronounced dead, the spokeswoman said.
Klecker was a San Francisco resident, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The suspect car continued fleeing police and struck another pedestrian near Union Square at Post and Powell streets, Gatpandan said.
Some of the officers aided the victim while other units continued to follow the suspect car, she said.
The second pedestrian suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening and was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, police said.
Officers then saw the Corolla hit a vehicle in the area of Eighth and Harrison streets, but officers lost sight of the suspect car in the South of Market neighborhood, Gatpandan said.
No injuries were reported in the third collision, she said.
Officers later conducted an area check on Treasure Island where they found the suspect vehicle unoccupied and confirmed it was stolen, according to Gatpandan.
Two firearms were recovered at Stockton and California streets and police believe they were thrown from the Corolla, she said.
Police are continuing to look for the three suspects, Gatpandan said.
Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to call the Police Department’s anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444. Tips can also be sent by text to TIP411 with “SFPD” at the start of the message.
Jamey Padojino, Bay City News
