Chaos broke out on one of San Francisco's iconic steep streets on Monday afternoon when a cable car came to a sudden and violent halt, leaving 15 people injured and triggering a large-scale emergency response.
Scene of the Incident
The dramatic event unfolded on California Street between Hyde and Leavenworth, a busy corridor in the heart of the city. Emergency services, led by the San Francisco Fire Department, rushed to the location following multiple reports of injuries.
Officials confirmed that the cable car abruptly stopped, causing passengers to be thrown forward violently. The incident prompted immediate calls for medical assistance as people were left hurt in the street.
Emergency Response and Casualty Details
Initially, the fire department reported 14 injured individuals and dispatched several ambulances to the scene. They urgently advised the public to avoid the area while first responders treated patients directly on the roadway.
In an early update, a fire department spokesperson stated, 'We have many ambulances coming into the area to deal with the patients that we are treating here.' They noted that injuries at that point ranged from minor to moderate.
Following a full assessment, officials stabilised the situation and declared the mass casualty incident (MCI) secured. The final tally confirmed that 15 patients were evaluated at the scene.
Outcome and Injuries
Of those injured, two people were transported to hospital immediately due to their injuries. A further 11 individuals were taken for medical evaluation, suffering from what officials described as minor aches and pains.
Two additional people were assessed by medical crews but declined transport to a hospital. Reassuringly, authorities confirmed that no life-threatening injuries were reported from the sudden stop on the steep San Francisco street.
