San Francisco officer not injured in South of Market area crash

SAN FRANCISCO -- A police officer was not seriously injured in a crash with another vehicle in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood late Tuesday morning, a police spokesman said.

The fire department received reports that a police car had been struck by another vehicle near the corner of Eighth and Harrison streets, near an Interstate Highway 80 off-ramp, at 11:41 a.m., fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.

The police officer was driving west on Harrison Street and a Nissan Altima was headed south on Eighth Street when they collided, police spokesman Officer Albie Esparza said.

The officer was taken to the hospital with a complaint of pain but was awake and communicative. Esparza said his injuries do not appear to be serious. The other driver was not taken to the hospital and stayed at the scene.

Police are still trying to determine who had the right of way at the intersection. Witnesses told police that the other driver ran a red light before hitting the patrol car, but police are still working to verify that and have not detained the driver, Esparza said.

Harrison Street was blocked between Seventh and Ninth streets and Eighth Street was blocked between Folsom and Harrison streets as a result of the collision. The highway off-ramp at Eighth Street was also closed. Streets in the area reopened by about 12:30 p.m.