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Zeitgeist bartender killed in crash outside Geary Kaiser hospital

A street scene shows cars on a road with a red lane, surrounded by trees and buildings. Police tape blocks off an area, with people standing on the sidewalk. Debris is scattered.
The aftermath of a crash that killed a pedestrian outside the Kaiser hospital on Geary Boulevard on Friday morning. | Source: Supplied

Another pedestrian was killed after being hit by a car on Friday morning, marking the second traffic death this week in San Francisco.

The victim was struck outside the Kaiser hospital on Geary Boulevard and quickly rushed to the emergency room by firefighters but was later pronounced dead.

The pedestrian was identified days later as Jonathan Chase Johnson, 35, of San Francisco, according to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.

Johnson, who worked at Zeitgeist as a bartender, drew warm remembrances on social media from patrons and community members. Zeitgeist closed its doors over the weekend in memoriam before reopening Monday; a bar representative contacted Tuesday acknowledged Johnson’s death before declining comment.

The crash occurred at about 6:52 a.m. near the intersection with Divisadero Street.

The driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators. Police say drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors.

Photos from the crash site, taken just after 8 a.m., show a Toyota SUV with a damaged front. Police have not said if this vehicle was involved in the traffic death.

A street is cordoned off with yellow tape, lined with police cars and officers. Tall buildings and trees are in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
The aftermath of a crash that killed a pedestrian outside the Kaiser hospital on Geary Boulevard on Friday morning. | Source: Supplied

Three Waymo vehicles are also seen in the photos, but the robotaxi operator says they were not involved and arrived at the crash site after the incident.

There does not appear to be a crosswalk at the crash site.

Police advised drivers to avoid the area while the investigation continues.

The incident comes just days after a 70-year-old man was hit by a dump truck and died instantly at the intersection of Parnassus Avenue and Stanyan Street.

And on Thursday night, a cyclist was the victim of a suspected hit-and-run near Fisherman’s Wharf. The rider lost teeth and was rushed to hospital after the crash.

This week’s traffic deaths should raise the count of pedestrian fatalities in the city to 21 this year. City data, which was updated earlier this month, show 19 pedestrians killed since Jan. 1. San Francisco has a goal of eliminating all traffic deaths through its Vision Zero program, which launched in 2014.

This is a developing story.