14 Run Down by SUV in San Francisco: Ohmeed Aziz Popal Arrested

No word on the driver’s motives just yet:

“It was like ‘Death Race 2000,’ ” firefighter Danny Bright said at California and Fillmore streets, as an ambulance stood nearby. “Guys were walking down the sidewalk and the guy just came up and ran them over. The guy went crazy.”

Fire Lt. Mindy Talmadge said Mayor Gavin Newsom had been notified and was coordinating the response with the command post at Spruce and California streets.

This afternoon, Newsom left City Hall saying he was en route to a hospital — presumably San Francisco General, where seven people had been admitted.

“Eleven people were hurt in the field, and police are still finding others,” said Lann Wilder, a spokeswoman for San Francisco General Hospital.

Of those, six adults and one child were being treated for blunt trauma at S.F. General, she said.

Pedestrians were struck in several locations:

Here is what is known so far: People were hit at 12 separate locations along the California Street corridor between Polk Street and Laurel Heights:

* Sutter and Webster
* Polk and Sacramento
* Bush and Divisadero
* Sutter and Steiner
* California and Laurel
* Callifornia and Fillmore
* Divisadero and Pine
* Bush and Pierce
* Fillmore and Bush
* Spruce and California
* 1850 Fillmore
* 3350 California

San Francisco Police Department spokesman Gittens said three of the people with life-threatening injuries were taken to San Francisco General.

It was a good day to skip lunch in San Francisco:

The SUV was finally stopped—it had to be surrounded and rammed by police cars—just outside the Starbucks at Laurel Village just up the block, where I normally walk at lunch, as my bank, several cafes and a bookstore are there. Today, fortunately, I was so busy at work that I didn’t get away for lunch until after 2:00, at which point the events already were over.

A quick run of “Freemont” and “Popal” through Google reveals quite a few hits on various stories about expatriate Afghanis from the area. I still haven’t found a direct hit on the suspects name.

Updates
8/30 6:00am
There are conflicting reports about the driver’s mental stability:

Omeed Aziz Popal, now in custody for a fatal hit and run rampage that apparently began in Fremont and ended in San Francisco, has a history of mental problems and lives in fear of the devil, some family members say. Other family members say he may have been anxious because of his recent marriage arranged by his family.

But those involved in the investigation — speaking on condition of anonymity — discount any mental illness, saying Popal seemed coherent, unrepentant and claimed that he repeatedly drove at pedestrians because he “just wanted to.”

A month ago, the 29-year-old Fremont resident and one-time auto worker returned home after getting married in his native Afghanistan, his family said. There was a wedding celebration two weeks ago, and Popal seemed to have everything to live for, some family members said. The family said Popal’s father had arranged the marriage.

“He was so happy and excited about being married — I can’t believe this happened today,” said Homa Aziz, a cousin who lives in Hayward. “Omeed is not that kind of boy. I don’t know what is wrong with him. He is the nicest boy.”

8/30
One witness claims that Ohmeed referred to himself as a terrorist but police contradict that. Watch the video.

Also Blogging
Darleen’s Place
Something…And Half of Something
Digger’s Realm
Wizbang!

Related posts:
Norman “Hillraiser” Hsu Arrested in Colorado
Hillary is getting bad news for breakfast: Norman Hsu’s quickly jumpstarted life on the lam came to a screeching stop less than 48 hours after it began when he got...

Jack McClellan Arrested Near UCLA Infant Program
I hate to post updates on this perv, he creeps me out, but this is good news: A man who blogs about his attraction to young girls but says he...

Four Arrested in Dua Khalil Aswad Honor Killing
I guess there is some justice. It won’t help Dua but if these men pay a price it might help prevent future attacks on defenseless women and girls. Authorities in...

U.S. Says Aziz Rumors False
US officials have said rumours that Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz had either defected or been shot dead fleeing Baghdad are untrue. The rumours affected oil prices in New...

Invasion Underway – Tareq Aziz in Custody
I’m still seeking confirmation but here is the Debka report: US warplanes taking off from the USS Abraham Lincoln are bombing Iraqi military targets along the US-UK line of advance....