5:36 PM: Two dump trucks were involved one of two major crashes involving San Francisco Municipal Railway vehicles that happened within minutes of each other this afternoon.
Westbound Geary Boulevard was closed between Webster and Laguna streets for about two-and-a-half hours this afternoon by the accident involving two dump trucks and Muni’s 38-Geary bus just before 1:30 p.m.
The crash appears to have occurred when the driver of a westbound dump truck traveling in front of the bus slammed on the brakes, Sgt. Danielle Newman said.
The driver of the Muni bus braked and swerved to avoid the dump truck, and then struck another dump truck traveling in the same direction, Newman said.
There were 20 people injured in the collision, including 12 who were transported to San Francisco General Hospital for injuries that were not believed to life-threatening and eight who were treated and released at the scene.
There is no dollar estimate of the damage, but the Muni bus was significantly damaged, according to Muni spokesman Paul Rose.
The roadway was cleared around 4 p.m. and buses have resumed service on Geary Boulevard, Muni officials said.
Muni is testing the driver for drugs and investigating who is at fault in the accident, officials said.
In a second incident, reported at 1:36 p.m., an 18-wheel big-rig hit a Muni light-rail vehicle at Third and Innes streets.
Police said the light-rail vehicle was traveling north on Third Street toward downtown when the truck, which was also traveling north on Third, allegedly made an illegal left turn on to Innes Street in front of the train.
The collision caused the train to derail several feet off the tracks, according to Officer Albie Esparza.
A total of 11 people were transported to the hospital and nine patients declined transport, a fire official said. Injuries ranged from moderate to mild, officials said.
The collision closed Third Street from Jerrold to Hudson avenues and Muni riders were being advised to find alternate means of travel as the collisions were expected to affect the evening commute, Esparza said.
A Muni bus was sent to help shelter those injured in the second accident, according to the fire department.
The driver of the big-rig had not been cited as of this afternoon, pending the completion of an investigation, Esparza said.
3:51 PM: Two major crashes involving San Francisco Municipal Railway vehicles that occurred within minutes of each other this afternoon each caused multiple injuries.
Geary Street between Webster and Laguna streets in the outbound direction remains shut down this afternoon by an accident involving a Muni bus just before 1:30 p.m.
The 38-Geary bus (pictured above) hit the back of a dump truck, injuring 20 people, according to Muni spokesman Paul Rose.
Of those 20 people, 12 were transported to San Francisco General Hospital and eight were treated and released at the scene.
There is no dollar estimate of the damage, but the Muni bus is significantly damaged, Rose said.
Muni is testing the driver for drugs and investigating who is at fault in the accident, he said.
In a second incident, reported at 1:36 p.m., an 18-wheel big-rig hit a Muni light rail vehicle at Third and Innes streets.
Police said the light-rail vehicle was traveling north on Third Street toward downtown when the truck, which was also traveling north on third, allegedly made an illegal left turn on to Innes Street in front of the train.
The collision caused the train to derail several feet off the tracks, according to Officer Albie Esparza.
A total of 11 people were transported to the hospital and nine patients declined transport, a fire official said.
Injuries ranged from moderate to mild, officials said.
The collision will close Third Street from Jerrold to Hudson avenues for at least the next hour, Esparza said.
Passengers are being advised to find alternate means of travel as the collision is expected to affect the evening commute.
A Muni bus was sent to help shelter those injured in the second accident, according to the fire department.
The driver of the big rig has not been cited at this time, pending the completion of the investigation, Esparza said.
2:17 PM: The San Francisco Fire Department is responding to two different traffic collisions this afternoon, both of which caused multiple injuries.
According to a fire spokeswoman, the first collision occurred on Geary Street between Webster and Buchannan streets around 1:30 p.m.
In that crash, a San Francisco Municipal Railway bus struck a dump truck, seriously injuring two people, moderately injuring one person, and causing minor injuries to 12 others.
In a second collision that happened minutes later, an 18-wheel big-rig hit a Muni light rail vehicle at Third and Innes streets. The fire spokeswoman said that crash caused moderate injuries to two people, and minor injuries to around 40 people.
A Muni bus is on its way to help shelter those injured in that second collision, the spokeswoman said.
