Uber Driver Who Hit S.F. Pedestrian Removed From Its App Platform

By Dan McMenamin
Bay City News

Uber officials have announced that one of their drivers who suffered a seizure and struck a pedestrian in San Francisco's Polk Gulch neighborhood on Saturday night will be removed from their app, pending a medical review.

The crash was reported at 9:58 p.m. Saturday near Polk and Geary streets.

The 56-year-old driver, whose name was not immediately being released, was taking passengers in his 2012 Mazda when he suffered the seizure, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, which hit three parked cars and then a man on the sidewalk, police spokeswoman Sgt. Danielle Newman said.

The pedestrian suffered a laceration to his head and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital. He is expected to survive, Newman said.

The driver was also hospitalized following his seizure and is expected to survive, Newman said. She said his license will be suspended until he can provide proof to the state Department of Motor Vehicles that his medical condition no longer impedes his ability to drive.

The passengers inside the Mazda at the time of the crash were not injured, Newman said.

Uber spokeswoman Eva Behrend called the crash "an unfortunate situation" and wished for a speedy recovery for the driver and pedestrian.

"Safety is Uber's #1 priority and we are treating the matter with the utmost urgency and care," Behrend said.

She said although the driver will be removed from Uber's app platform pending a medical review, he "has an outstanding record of service and safety with no prior incidents."

Uber and other ride-service companies have come under criticism in San Francisco regarding their regulations for drivers' insurance and other issues.

The policies faced increased scrutiny after an Uber driver struck and killed a 6-year-old girl last New Year's Eve.