San Francisco Mayor's $135K SUV Crashes Into Cable Car

Incident involving Rivian SUV and historic Muni streetcar adds to Mayor's troubles

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:18am by Ben Kaplan

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In December, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie's $135,000 Rivian SUV was involved in a crash with a historic Muni cable car on Market Street. The mayor's vehicle, equipped with police-style lights, suddenly stopped in the middle of the street, leading the cable car to plow into the back of it and causing around $21,400 in damage to the beloved transit icon. The incident is coming to light at a difficult time for Lurie, who has also faced a recent confrontation between his bodyguard and a homeless man.

Why it matters

The crash involving the mayor's luxury SUV and a historic cable car, a symbol of San Francisco, highlights ongoing transportation and public safety challenges in the city. It comes as Mayor Lurie is already facing scrutiny over a separate incident involving his security detail and a homeless individual, raising questions about his leadership and the city's approach to addressing homelessness and policing.

The details

According to reports, the mayor's Rivian SUV was attempting an illegal U-turn on Market Street when it suddenly stopped, leading the F-Market streetcar traveling behind it to collide with the back of the vehicle. While no injury claims were filed, the cable car, a beloved tourist attraction but notoriously difficult to repair, sustained around $21,400 in damage.

  • The incident occurred in December 2025.
  • The video of the crash is only now coming to light in March 2026.

The players

Daniel Lurie

The current mayor of San Francisco.

Tony Phillips

A 44-year-old homeless man who was involved in a confrontation with one of Mayor Lurie's bodyguards earlier this month.

SFMTA

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees the city's public transit system, including the cable cars.

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What’s next

The city is likely to investigate the incident further and determine if any policy changes or additional safety measures are needed to prevent similar crashes involving the mayor's vehicle or the historic cable cars.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges San Francisco faces in balancing the needs of its diverse transportation systems and the safety of all road users, including high-profile officials. It also raises questions about the mayor's decision-making and the conduct of his security detail, which have come under scrutiny in recent weeks.