A fiery crash in San Francisco's Castro District on Thursday night killed one person, injured another and sent flames racing along a line of parked cars, leaving at least eight vehicles gutted.
Witnesses said a Buick heading south on Castro Street ran a red light at Market Street, swerved into the northbound lane and slammed into a BMW that was turning right to go into a parking lot for the Castro Theater at 6:38 p.m.
Both cars burst into flames, and the BMW was knocked into a parked car, while the Buick careened into at least three more cars, said Thomas Willows, a Lower Haight resident. The fire spread quickly down the line of unoccupied vehicles and several motorcycles.
Michael Gamble, who was inside the nearby Bar On Castro, rushed outside and saw a homeless man, identified only as Dane, jump into the BMW and try to pull the driver out. A half dozen people emerged from the bar and other businesses and tried to help.
Two hours after the crash, the street was littered with charred and mangled cars, with several motorcycles lodged underneath them. The BMW was halfway on the sidewalk with the driver's side smashed and a motorcycle caught under its back wheels. Most of Castro Street between Market and 18th streets was cordoned off and lined with onlookers.