At least 4 injured, 1 critically after SamTrans bus crashes into 16 cars outside Serramonte Target
DALY CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- At least four people were injured, one critically, after a SamTrans bus crashed into 16 cars in the Serramonte Center parking lot in Daly City Friday, according to transit officials.
The crash was reported shortly after 11:50 a.m. near the Target store on the south end of the shopping center, fire officials said.
The four people who were injured in this crash were taken to San Francisco General.
VIDEO: SKY7 shows aftermath from bus crash into 16 cars at Serramonte
Video posted on Twitter from the scene shows the aftermath of the crash. You can see several smashed cars and crumpled-up shopping carts underneath the front end of the bus.
ABC7 News spoke to a woman named Paula who was making a left turn when the bus unexpectedly crashed into her.
"I was waiting for the light and the bus comes to me," said Paula and added, "I was in shock because I'm just stopping over there and the bus crashed into me. It was scary."
Paula said her car was dragged several feet before the bus driver kept driving, crashing through bushes and into the Serramonte Center parking lot.
MORE: 6 injured following SUV and Muni bus crash in SF, police say
Luz Pena: "Did you see the driver?"
Paula: "It was a woman. It was a woman driver. Did she seem okay? Yes, she seems okay. The bus was driving faster."
Lisa Clossey was shopping at Target. When she came out she noticed her car was one of the first ones hit.
"I came out of target and found my car totaled and four or five rows from where I left it parked. All of a sudden I realized all the others cars around were totaled too," said Clossey.
SamTrans confirmed there were multiple passengers inside the bus during the crash. Marilyn Bartolata saw the aftermath.
"We thought it was just a regular accident and then I looked and said where is your car? Then I see it. 'Oh my God. We got hit.' It was so shocking," said Bartolata.
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Gina Gutierrez told ABC7 News, "There just was chaos. It was just complete chaos."
Gutierrez and her mother arrived only minutes after the bus driver tore through bushes, ripped through the lot, crushed a cart and came to a stop.
"It definitely, you know, raises a lot of concerns. Especially this day and age," she added. "You never know. With people, sort of hijacking public transportation. You hear about MUNI."
San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa said, "A lot of these buses, lots of technology. And so, there's video of the driver, there's video outside. So, we can't jump to any conclusions. We have to wait and see what's happened."
According to SamTrans, at least two people remained hospitalized Friday night. The agency adding, their injuries appear to be non-life threatening.
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With the busy holiday shopping season underway, Supervisor Canepa said the outcome could've been much worse.
And as the scene was cleared late Friday night, many are left wondering what safety improvements should be made at Serramonte.
Canepa told ABC7 News, "I am really curious, as a policy maker and representing this district, what went wrong and how do we make sure that it never happens again."
Supervisor Canepa said the bus driver has told authorities that the brakes failed right before the collision.
Full SamTrans statement:
"On behalf of SamTrans, I want to express our deepest sympathies to those who were impacted today. The safety of our riders, employees, and the public is always our highest priority and we pride ourselves on providing safe and reliable service. We are working with authorities and actively looking into the cause of this incident to figure out what went wrong and how it can be prevented in the future. We will provide a more thorough update once that investigation is complete. Our hearts continue to be with those who were impacted today." - April Chan, SamTrans General Manager/CEO
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