Tuesday San Francisco News Roundup
MALFUNCTION CAUSES HELICOPTER CRASH AT AIRPORT
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter malfunctioned during a test flight at San Francisco International Airport Monday and landed on its side on the tarmac, according to the Coast Guard.
The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter’s pilot was hovering about 10 feet over a tarmac at the Coast Guard Air Station on the north side of SFO and attempting to land when it crashed at 2:55 p.m., Coast Guard officials said.
The crew walked away from the crash mostly unharmed, SFO spokesman Doug Yakel said. At least one person was treated for minor injuries. The incident did not affect commercial operations at the airport, Yakel said.
Four helicopters and about 100 Coast Guard personnel are based at the SFO air station, providing search-and-rescue, law enforcement, port security and other regional emergency services, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is investigating exactly how the crash happened.
DRIVER LEADS HIGH SPEED CHASE ONTO BAY BRIDGE
A driver who went through a road closure on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in San Francisco led highway patrol officers on a chase this morning onto the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP Officer Peter Van Eckhardt said the chase started at 12:54 a.m. on U.S. Highway 101 near Vermont Street.
Van Eckhardt said an officer tried to stop the driver after they went through the closure, but the driver failed to yield. Instead, the driver led the officer on a chase at speeds of up to 80 mph onto the Bay Bridge where the chase ended at 1:04 a.m., Van Eckhardt said.
Officers are investigating why the driver went through the closure barriers.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE TOLL RATES GOING UP
Toll rates at the Golden Gate Bridge will increase Wednesday morning, according to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District.
The FasTrak and Pay-by-Plate rates for two-axle vehicles and the carpool rate will all go up by 25 cents, district officials said.
The board of directors approved the hike in Feb. 2014 as part of a multi-year program to increase tolls. The hike will help offset a five-year budget deficit, according to the bridge district.
MAN INJURED AFTER BEING PUNCHED IN THE FACE
A 40 to 45-year-old man is suffering from life-threatening injuries after he was punched Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, police said.
The victim was in the area of Eighth and Market streets when a suspect punched him in the face at about 4:30 p.m., according to police. The victim suffered a cut to the back of his head and was bleeding from his mouth, police said.
A witness said one suspect pushed the victim and another punched him, according to police. Police have not made an arrest in the case.
TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST
Today will be cloudy in the morning and partly cloudy in the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 60s near the coast and hotter inland.
Winds will be from southwest at 5 to 10 mph. Skies will be partly cloudy this evening and mostly cloudy at night. Lows will be in the mid 50s with southwest winds of 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday will be mostly cloudy in the morning and partly cloudy in the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 60s near the coast, with higher temperatures inland. Winds will be from the southwest at 5 to 10 mph.
