7 injured after SF cable car abruptly stops to avoid hitting car, fire official says

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Seven people suffered minor injuries when a Cable Car made a sudden stop Monday afternoon on Washington and Taylor Streets on Nob Hill.

Muni tells ABC7 the gripman on the Powell-Hyde line car activated his slot blade, an emergency brake, to avoid hitting a vehicle on the tracks.

As a result, some passengers fell.

The incident happened about 12:30 p.m. as the cable car was headed down Washington Street, approaching the intersection of Taylor Street, Lt. Mariano Elias said.

Six of them were taken to the hospital. Sixteen people in total were on the cable car, officials said.

MORE: VIDEO: Driverless Cruise car struck by SF firetruck, injuring passenger, company says

Cruise says that one of their driverless cars went through a green light and was hit by a San Francisco firetruck on the way to an emergency scene.

The cable car became stuck when when a section of the braking system got lodged into the track, Elias said.

Service on the line was re-routed to the Powell-Mason line while Muni crews towed the cable car back to the barn.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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