Man charged with murder in fatal SoMa hit-and-run after sidewalk dispute

Valantino Cash Amil accused of striking and killing 74-year-old Dannielle Spillman after confrontation over blocked sidewalk

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:23pm by

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car side mirror reflecting the faint glow of streetlights, conveying the stark, gritty aftermath of a violent collision.The aftermath of a fatal hit-and-run in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood exposes the human toll of tensions between drivers and vulnerable road users.San Francisco Today

A 30-year-old man has been charged with murder and felony hit-and-run after allegedly striking and killing a 74-year-old transgender woman in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood on Monday. Prosecutors say the incident began as a verbal dispute over a blocked sidewalk that escalated when the victim poured water on the suspect's vehicle, leading him to accelerate and strike her.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety and tensions between drivers and vulnerable road users in San Francisco, which has seen a rise in traffic fatalities in recent years. The case also raises questions about how the city can better protect its transgender residents, who face disproportionate rates of violence.

The details

According to prosecutors, Valantino Cash Amil was driving a Mercedes-Benz that partially blocked a sidewalk near Mission Street and South Van Ness Avenue on Monday afternoon. When 74-year-old Dannielle Spillman, a longtime San Francisco resident, confronted Amil about the blocked sidewalk, the situation escalated. Spillman allegedly poured water from a bottle onto Amil's vehicle, and Amil then accelerated, striking Spillman and causing her to land on the hood and windshield. Amil then slowed down, causing Spillman to fall off the vehicle and in front of it, where he drove over her. Amil fled the scene but was arrested nearly two hours later.

  • The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15, 2026 near Mission Street and South Van Ness Avenue.
  • Spillman was pronounced dead at the scene 10 minutes after the collision.
  • Amil was arrested nearly two hours after the incident.

The players

Valantino Cash Amil

A 30-year-old man charged with murder and felony hit-and-run for allegedly striking and killing Dannielle Spillman with his vehicle.

Dannielle Spillman

A 74-year-old transgender woman and longtime San Francisco resident who was killed in the hit-and-run incident. She was the city's eighth pedestrian fatality of the year.

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What they’re saying

“She was telling me recently she was nearly assaulted and that a man had recently tried to hit her.”

— Derrick Guerra, Case manager at the Shanti Project

“Spillman recently shared that she felt San Francisco was safer for trans women in the 1990s than it is today.”

— Derrick Guerra, Case manager at the Shanti Project

What’s next

Amil remains in custody without bail, and a vigil is currently being planned to honor Spillman's memory.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the ongoing challenges San Francisco faces in ensuring the safety of its most vulnerable residents, including pedestrians and the transgender community. It will likely prompt renewed calls for improved traffic enforcement, street design, and support services to protect those at risk of violence.