Car crashes into North Beach bar - 3 injured - SFGate

A car drove into the Comstock Saloon in San Francisco's North Beach on Monday afternoon, injuring three people, authorities said.

The burgundy BMW sedan went into the double doors of the saloon at 155 Columbus Ave. at about 1:45 p.m., plowing through until it reached the bar, said Central Station police Capt. David Lazar.

Two bar patrons were taken to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Lazar said. The driver, who remained at the scene and cooperated with police, was evaluated for minor injuries.

The driver, whose name was not immediately released, was traveling south on Columbus Avenue when he lost control at Pacific Avenue and flew into the building, Lazar said. He was later arrested at the scene for an outstanding warrant out of Sacramento County for a sale of marijuana charge, Lazar said.

The car fit perfectly through the double doors, striking some bar stools and clipping the bar before coming to a rest in the middle of the saloon. Broken glass covered the sidewalk and the inside of the building.

Patrick Hagan, 67, was on his lunch break and walking by the Comstock Saloon when the crash happened.

"I could just feel it," he said. "It was a rush of wind. I saw somebody yelling."

Fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said damage to the building didn't appear to be structural.

However, Comstock Saloon managing partner Jonny Raglin said the crash "pretty much destroyed the bar area," and that the restaurant will be closed indefinitely for repairs.

"It's an antique, old bar built in 1907," he said. "It's going to take a long time to restore."

Raglin said the crash happened just after the lunch rush. Two hours earlier, the dining area was packed with guests, he said.

"All I can say is it's a miracle no one was killed," he said.

Evan Sernoffsky and Vivian Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky, @VivianHo

Source : http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Car-crashes-into-North-Beach-bar-2-injured-5757170.php