UPDATE: Several vehicles involved in tour bus accident in the heart of #SF's #UnionSquare: https://t.co/TUINdcHBEB https://t.co/eLZGq2P9tx
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsBayArea) November 13, 2015
Officials say all six of those with critical injuries are being treated at San Francisco General Hospital. They include four men and two women between 20 and 60 years of age. The other 14 victims were taken to other hospitals.
According to officials, the driver of that open-air double-decker bus was driving erratically and speeding for at least two blocks before ending at the site.
Police say he hit a bicyclist, who is in critical condition, before hitting several vehicles and scaffolding which then fell on more cars and people. That scaffolding is part of construction at the site of the new Apple store.
PHOTOS: Several injuries reported after tour bus accident in SF
"According to eyewitnesses, they saw the bus, which is double-decker open-air bus, driving erratically down Post Street," said San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson Mindy Talmadge. "In the process, a few vehicles were struck then the bus came to rest against some scaffolding which fell into the street."
First responders had to pull people out because they were pinned beneath the bus and scaffolding.
"It was like a bomb going off. It just kept going boom, boom, boom, boom, boom like it wasn't gonna stop," witness John Zimmer said.
Police say they will investigate to determine what caused this accident.
Tour bus hit scaffolding in Union Square SF. Corner of Post and Stockton cc. @KatieABC7 @abc7newsBayArea pic.twitter.com/yjh0zQYUtq
— Mónica Quiroz (@monica) November 14, 2015
"We will look at everything," said Officer Albie Esparza. "We will look at any mechanical malfunctions, we will look at any DUI or alcohol or narcotics as standard operating procedures go for collisions."
Officials say some victims were treated at the scene but others, including the driver and the bicyclist, were taken to the hospital.
The hospital has said very little about the nature of their injuries, but a source inside San Francisco general filled us in on some of the details. Of the five critical patients, two have major head injuries and one has an extremely serious broken leg. Those three patients are scheduled to be in surgery on Saturday.
Friends and family members of some of the victims were at the hospital Friday evening.
There were earlier reports that PG&E lines had been affected, but that is not the case. The lines that fell belong to Muni, so crews were busy Friday evening repairing them.
It took hours to remove the scaffolding and tow away the damaged vehicles, so streets in the area were closed until late Friday night.
SF Fire Dept. says driver of bus was driving erratically for at least one block before hitting scaffolding. pic.twitter.com/RMGgMmunWC
— Lyanne Melendez (@LyanneMelendez) November 14, 2015
Number of injuries from #accident near Union Square: 20. pic.twitter.com/YKQkvjdBq9
— Lyanne Melendez (@LyanneMelendez) November 14, 2015
Tour bus hit scaffolding in Union Square SF. Corner of Post and Stockton cc. @KatieABC7 @abc7newsBayArea pic.twitter.com/yjh0zQYUtq
— Mónica Quiroz (@monica) November 14, 2015
.@PGE4Me on scene due to downed power lines. #UnionSquare @abc7newsBayArea pic.twitter.com/AYLkCJRnGE
— Katie Marzullo (@KatieABC7) November 14, 2015
SFPD: tour bus was speeding & out of control; unknown if mechanical prob or driver health prob. @abc7newsBayArea pic.twitter.com/DnTBFLr9yM
— Katie Marzullo (@KatieABC7) November 14, 2015
#sffd units on scene #unionsquare for MCI #tourbus accident. pic.twitter.com/4LO7j32GKo
— SF Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) November 14, 2015
On scene at #UnionSquare where tour bus hit scaffolding & other cars. 18 people hurt. @abc7newsBayArea pic.twitter.com/wTKmqfQFYm
— Katie Marzullo (@KatieABC7) November 14, 2015