Elderly Driver Arrested In Crash That Killed Teacher In Front of San Francisco School
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- An elderly woman was arrested following a crash that killed a beloved San Francisco educator in front of his school, police said Friday.
The crash happened Wednesday just before 8 a.m. outside Sherman Elementary School at Franklin and Union Streets. Officers arrived and found multiple vehicles had been involved in a collision and a pedestrian was down near one of the vehicles. The pedestrian was identified as 30-year-old Andrew Zieman, a para-educator at the school.
Officers performed first aid until medics arrived, but Zieman was pronounced dead at the scene.
San Francisco police said Friday investigators determined Susan Vennarucci, 70, had been driving westbound on Union Street and drove through the Franklin Street intersection against a red light, resulting in the collision. Vennarucci was arrested at the scene for vehicular manslaughter and running a red light, police said.
The parties involved in the crash all remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision, police said.
There were grief counselors on hand at Sherman Elementary on Friday and a special gathering was held before class to remember Zieman, who once attended the school as a child. The school principal sent a letter to parents on Thursday informing them about Zieman's death. School was closed Thursday for Veterans Day.
Franklin Street is a major northbound, one-way artery used by drivers to avoid traffic on Van Ness. The approach to Sherman Elementary has a steep pitch to Union Street and drivers often pick up speed on that route, and there is only one school zone sign at the beginning of the block where Sherman sits.
"People walk with their children and their families every day, back and forth to school, so this needs to be a safe spot, a safe zone for our community to get to school," said Vivian Nevin, a PTA member. "Not only our families, but also our teachers and our staff."
After Zieman became an afterschool educator he became a paraeducator focused on helping chldren with special needs.
"He had such a kind heart and kind soul and he was a gift to Sherman and he had a gift in taking care of kids. He'll be missed. We are devastated," Nevin said.
Anyone with additional information about the crash was asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or text to TIP411 and begin message with SFPD.
