An F-Line trolley hit a pedestrian this morning near the intersection of Seventh and Market, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Battalion Chief Mike Bryant said firefighters received a report that a man was under the train at approximately 10:00 a.m. on June 8, 2012.
Crews had passengers leave the trolley before they lifted it on stilts so they could slide the victim out. The injured man was transported to the hospital. He suffered minor injuries, Bryant said, and had been trapped under the wheels of the trolley, The Chronicle reports.
Paul Rose, a transit spokesman, explained in the news story that the man who was injured had been trying to get into the back door when the trolley started moving away from the station.
A witness, Erwin Mack, said he heard the victim scream as the train hit him. He added that he thought the man was more in shock. The victim, he explained, had big cuts on his leg, and tracks marks were visible, The Chronicle reports.
The investigation is continuing.
As the world’s oldest operating cable car system, the trolleys of San Francisco are prone to accidents.
The cable car system was first installed in 1873 and all of the lines were completed by 1890 throughout the downtown and neighboring areas in the hilly city of San Francisco. While not regularly used by commuters today, the system is still commonly used by the multitudes of tourists that flock to San Francisco throughout the year. They act as a cheap, easy way to transport people from the downtown areas like Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf, California Street and Union Square. They are considered a National Monument of the United States and are listed on many historical and cultural heritage sites.
The system fell into disrepair for many years in the early 1900s after a devastating earthquake wiped out large portions of the city. However, in 1984, the transportation authority of San Francisco decided to revamp the cars and the tracks. They started by refurbishing all of the old trolley cars to restore their original glory, as well as adding new tracks to the already existing lines.
In April of 2007, the San Francisco auditor’s office reported a slight hiccup in the financials of the trolley cars, claiming that the city was not receiving the revenue that they expected. Their report stated that about 40% of the cable car riders were traveling for free. This claim was later disputed by the transportation authority who said that the conductors were only responsible for the safety of their passengers and not for the collection of fees.
As fascinating as the trolley cars of San Francisco are, they can also present a dangerous hazard to the occupants of the city. Because they travel throughout the most crowded areas of the city, there is a higher risk for the passengers, the motorists and pedestrians in the downtown. If you have been injured in a trolley accident, we recommend calling an experienced San Francisco train accident lawyer, who can help you cope with your pain and suffering. At AA-Accident Attorneys, we have more than 20 years’ experience dealing with the emotional, physical and financial burdens that are associated with these types of traumatic accidents. Our train accident lawyer can help to fight the insurance companies and other negligent parties on your behalf, to win you the compensation that you deserve. We have locations throughout California. Call today for your free evaluation!
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