Investigation on the Trucker Who Killed Emitt Jackson Remains Opaque
On October 4, a truck driver crushed 68-year-old Emitt Jackson, pinning him against a parked vehicle and killing him. But police have yet to release the name of the driver, any further information on the investigation, and whether the driver could face charges. Jackson is at least the 11th pedestrian to be killed in SF this year.
From an SF Chronicle report on October 6:
Emitt Jackson, 68, of Martinez, was unloading or loading a parked vehicle on Pacific Avenue at Polk Street on Friday when a truck parked behind him suddenly accelerated and pinned him against the other vehicle, according to Officer Albie Esparza.
Jackson was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Esparza said the victim may have been working with the driver of the truck that hit him, but investigators had not yet figured out why it lurched forward and hit him. The driver remained at the scene and has been cooperating with the investigators, Esparza said.
We sent an email to SFPD asking for an update on the status of the investigation, whether any arrests have been made, and if there's been a determination as to how the incident occurred. In response, Esparza only stated that "there is no new update on the case."
"The city needs to let the public know that there are penalties for people who kill other people, and that those cases aren't just slipping through the cracks," said Nicole Schneider, executive director of Walk SF.
"We still don't know how Emmitt Jackson's case is being handled, if at all," Schneider added, pointing to the April article from the Center for Investigative Reporting, which showed that Bay Area drivers rarely face legal penalties for killing pedestrians, even when found at fault.
"We're all pedestrians at some point, and that when on foot, we are the most vulnerable roadway user," Schneider said. "The human body is no match [for the] sheer weight of cars and trucks. This tragedy sheds light on a systemic injustice in our city."
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