Dec 17, 2007 6:49 pm US/Pacific
SF Public Utilies Chief Susan Leal Struck By Van
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS / BCN) ―
Susan Leal, general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, was struck by a car and injured Monday in front of City Hall, officials said.
Leal was in the Polk Street crosswalk leaving City Hall and heading to Civic Center Plaza just before noon when she was hit from behind by a minivan and thrown 30 feet, said commission spokesmanTony Winnicker.
Leal was shaken up, but did not appear to be seriously hurt, Winnicker said. But he added she would stay overnight at San Francisco General Hospital as a precaution.
"She will be quite bruised from the impact and the landing. It could have been much worse," he said. "She's stable. She's alert. She's coherent. She's actually in good spirits in spite of taking a pretty tough hit."
The driver of the Green Plymouth minivan told police she did not see Leal in the crosswalk before striking her. The driver - whose name was not immediately released - was quite shaken as well, and was also taken to a hospital for observation, Winniker said.
As of Monday evening, that driver had not yet been cited. Police do not believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, SFPD Sgt. Steve Mannina said.
Leal, a former supervisor and city treasurer, has been under pressure from Mayor Gavin Newsom to resign as head of the city's public utilities agency -- a post she's held since 2004.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
