Car crash closes Bank of America branch in San Francisco

ByNick Smith KGO logo
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Car slams into BofA branch in San Francisco
A car slammed into a Bank of America branch in San Francisco early this morning.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A Bank of America branch in San Francisco will be closed for at least the next two days after a driver slammed into the building early this morning. The woman is seriously injured. San Francisco police are investigating this as a possible DUI case.



A late model, white Mazda 3 has been reduced to a pile of mangled fiberglass and twisted steel after smashing through the doors of a Bank of America just before 6 a.m.



"A solo driver and vehicle was traveling at a high-rate of speed southbound on Mission Street when it lost control in the intersection and did subsequently jumped the curb and struck the bank behind us," said San Francisco Police Department Ofc. Albie Esparza.



The car landed only inches from a bus stop after police say the driver, a woman believed to be in her 40's, narrowly missed hitting a Muni bus packed with commuters, just seconds before.



"As you know, this is a very busy street on the weekday at the bus stop, it could have been a lot worse," said Esparza.



Once cops arrived, the driver was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. It wasn't long before evidence recovered at the scene would turn this simple traffic accident into something more.



"There were some objective symptoms of alcohol and we believe that this is also a DUI investigation," said Esparza.



An official with Bank of America arrived to take a look at the damage, snap pictures and talk with police.



"We'll be reviewing the cameras," said Esparza.



Investigators say they are pulling video from Bank of America and a traffic camera, a real-time, digital map of the events leading to the crash.



"We do have independent witnesses. Any evidence we can gather is great," said Esparza.


Orange markers show where the car jumped the curb and they're also used by traffic investigators to help determine the trajectory. Customers are being redirected to the 15 Ocean branch.


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