Driver led San Francisco police onto Bay Bridge causing partial closure

By Jose Fabian

The partial shutdown of the Bay Bridge on Wednesday evening was due to a car chase, San Francisco police said.

Around 6:45 p.m., officers tried to stop a driver who was in a suspected wanted vehicle, police said. The driver refused to pull over and instead led officers onto the Bay Bridge, where he then abandoned the vehicle and jumped from the upper level to the lower level of the bridge, the United States Coast Guard said.

The partial closure of eastbound Interstate 80, west of Treasure Island, was then announced by Caltrans just before 7:20 p.m.

The Coast Guard said they were called to the area as a precaution in case the person fell from the Bay Bridge, the USCG said. The San Francisco Fire Department was also at the scene and said they were called to help look for something in the water. So far, crews have not found anything, the department said.

The driver was eventually arrested, and all eastbound lanes were reopened around 8:30 p.m.

Police said the charges would not yet be announced as it remains an active investigation.