Victim in deadly SF Chinatown crash ID’d; concerns raised about pedestrian safety, elderly drivers

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — An investigation is underway into the deadly accident last week in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown.

A vehicle driven by a 76-year-old slammed through the front of a business, killing 49-year-old Cutberto Zamora-Martinez of San Joaquin County.

Some are asking what should be done to protect pedestrians. And others are asking if steps should be taken concerning senior drivers.

Friday’s incident is the second high-profile pedestrian fatality involving an older driver.

The city says it’s moving fast and making changes in Chinatown and around San Francisco to improve safety on our streets.

“It’s an unfortunate situation. I feel for the families that were involved,” said Keith Hong. Hong works at a bar right next door to where the fatal crash happened Friday morning on Jackson and Beckett Streets.

MORE: SF driver who killed family of 4 will be forced to explain what happened in crash in civil cases

New Lung Ting Café remains closed after a 76-year-old driver allegedly lost control of his car while attempting to park, jumped the curb, and smashed into the restaurant.

Construction worker was killed and another person was seriously hurt.

This year, six pedestrians have been killed in San Francisco.

“These past few incidents in particular have been a brutal wake-up call,” said Danny Sauter, SF Supervisor.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce gathered local leaders Monday to talk about what’s being done to improve safety on streets in Chinatown.

“Speed is number one cause of severe injuries and fatalities,” said Viktoria Wise, SMFTA Director of Streets. “We’ve lowered speed limits on Stockton Street, on Broadway Street. We’ve implemented a speed safety camera in Chinatown. We’ve also done no turn on red.”

SFMTA just released a high injury traffic map showing the streets with the most serious injuries and fatalities.
“Police and hospital data are a tool to recognize where some of the more dangerous streets are where the most severe injuries and fatalities are,” said Wise.

Jackson Street at Grant Street in Chinatown SF — the site of Friday’s accident — is one of the injury hot spots.

MORE: New SFMTA traffic map shows SF streets with highest injuries for pedestrians and cyclists

The city says it’s working quickly to make safety changes in the next several weeks.

“We will be daylighting the intersection of Jackson and Grant,” said Viktoria Wise. “Daylighting allows drivers to see pedestrians more openly as they cross the street.”

Wise talked about other safety measures in Chinatown.

“Adjusting traffic signals make sure pedestrians have enough time to cross,” said Wise.

ABC7 Eyewitness News asked city leaders about safety concerns involving senior drivers.

“There have been a string of tragic drivers that have involved senior drivers in recent months in San Francisco in recent years,” said Supervisor Sauter.

That includes the fatal crash in Chinatown last Friday and the fatal crash in West Portal that killed a family of four at a bus shelter in 2024.

Supervisor Sauter says the community can also help, when it’s time for elders to consider renewing their driver’s licenses.

“We also need to have candid conversations about renewals for senior citizens,” said Sauter. “There needs to be a point where there is more scrutiny on those renewals to keep everyone safe.”

“I don’t know the number of accidents of elderly drivers. Maybe we look into when we get to a certain age, you got to get retested. Maybe vision impairment, reaction is not the same,” said Hong.

ABC7 News Eyewitness news reached out State Senator Scott Wiener about the issue of elderly drivers.

He says when a driver is a danger to others, it’s a serious concern.

He also says the Legislature is working on a package of bills to address rising traffic deaths on our streets.

As for the driver in the Jackson Street crash, no arrest has been made. No charges have been filed.