Early-morning hit-and-run in Mission District involved four vehicles

Eyewitness says driver ran red light, plowed into cars and then fled the scene

Feb. 3, 2026 at 8:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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An apparent hit-and-run driver triggered a four-car pileup at the intersection of 22nd and Bryant streets in San Francisco's Mission District early on the morning of February 3, 2026. According to an eyewitness, the driver of a grey Toyota Crown XLE ran a red light, causing the crash, and then fled the scene on foot after briefly speaking to another driver.

Why it matters

Hit-and-run incidents are an ongoing problem in San Francisco, with the city's high population density and traffic congestion contributing to a higher rate of such accidents. This latest incident raises concerns about public safety and the need for improved enforcement and deterrents to prevent drivers from fleeing the scene of a collision.

The details

According to eyewitness Elizabeth Creely, the driver of the Toyota Crown XLE ran a red light, causing the four-car crash. After the accident, the driver exited the vehicle and asked a bystander to borrow a sweater, but was refused and then fled the scene on foot down 22nd Street. When Creely arrived, a woman whose car had been struck was still trapped inside due to an inflated airbag. The San Francisco Fire Department transported her to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two other parked cars on 22nd Street were also damaged in the incident.

  • The incident occurred around 6:10 a.m. on February 3, 2026.

The players

Elizabeth Creely

An eyewitness who heard the crash from her home and arrived at the scene shortly afterward.

The driver of the grey Toyota Crown XLE

An unidentified individual who allegedly ran a red light, causing the four-car collision, and then fled the scene on foot.

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What they’re saying

“A crowd had gathered, and people were standing around her vehicle trying to comfort her.”

— Elizabeth Creely, Eyewitness (missionlocal.org)

“The witness also told Creely that he spoke to the driver of the Toyota, who, after exiting the vehicle, said that he had crashed his car and asked to borrow a sweater. He was told no and then allegedly fled the scene on foot down 22nd Street toward Florida Street.”

— Elizabeth Creely, Eyewitness (missionlocal.org)

What’s next

The San Francisco Police Department has not responded to a request for comment, and it is unclear if they have identified or apprehended the driver who fled the scene.

The takeaway

This hit-and-run incident highlights the ongoing challenges San Francisco faces in addressing traffic safety and holding drivers accountable when they cause collisions and then flee the scene. The city may need to consider additional measures, such as increased enforcement, harsher penalties, and public awareness campaigns, to deter such behavior and protect pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists.