In March of 2015, a San Francisco Sheriff’s Deputy revived a bicyclist who was not breathing Monday after a car struck him in the Mission, another San Francisco Deputy Sheriff at the scene told the San Francisco Examiner.
San Francisco Deputy Sheriff I. Zaragoza said he and his partner arrived at the accident scene at 14th and Folsom streets about 12:30 PM to find a woman providing CPR for the injured bicyclist.
Though the bicyclist was wearing a helmet, Police Officer Grace Gatpandan said the man was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with severe head trauma and was in life-threatening condition. Zaragoza said he performed CPR on the man for seven to eight minutes before help arrived. “We’re trained to do chest compressions and that’s what I did,” said Zaragoza. “I just tried to give as much help as we can until other personnel had come up. Thank goodness that there was an off-duty firefighter paramedic that was also on scene.”
Zaragoza’s partner, San Francisco Deputy Sheriff C. Moore, described the bicyclist as 50 to 60 years old and bleeding heavily when first responders arrived. Oakland resident Noe Orozco said he witnessed the vehicle blow through a red light and strike the bicyclist as the bicyclist waited for the light to turn green.
Police could not confirm whether the driver of the white Honda Civic, who stayed at the scene, was at fault. No charges were announced Monday.
Reported by the Examiner, Michael Barba