76-Year-Old Driver Charged in Fatal SF Crash

San Francisco prosecutors have charged a 76-year-old driver in a March 27 Chinatown crash that killed one pedestrian and injured another, turning a weeks-long traffic investigation into a criminal case. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Zhuo Ming Lu was arraigned on May 12 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors say Lu was trying to park near Grant Avenue and Jackson Street when his vehicle went onto the sidewalk, struck two pedestrians and crashed into a building. The court released Lu on his own recognizance and ordered him not to drive, to surrender his driver's license and passport, and to face a pre-trial hearing on September 30. ### Who was charged, and with what? Brooke Jenkins said on May 13 that Lu was charged with vehicular manslaughter under California Penal Code 192(c)(2). Prosecutors also charged him with driving on the sidewalk and driving at an unsafe speed without gross negligence, according to the district attorney's office. (sfdistrictattorney.org) May 12 was Lu's arraignment date, and the district attorney's office said he denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. The court ordered the California Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend his license if it had not already done so. ### What do police say happened in Chinatown that morning? (sfdistrictattorney.org) San Francisco police said officers were dispatched at about 7:43 a.m. on March 27 to the area of Grant Avenue and Jackson Street after a vehicle collision. Officers found two injured victims, and paramedics took both to a local hospital. One victim later died despite what the district attorney's office described as lifesaving efforts by first responders and medical staff. (sfdistrictattorney.org) The second adult victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. ABC7 and CBS Bay Area reported that Lu was attempting to park when he lost control, jumped the curb and hit the pedestrians on the sidewalk before colliding with a building. Police said Lu remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, and early reporting said drugs and alcohol did not appear to be factors. (sfdistrictattorney.org) ### Who was the man who died? KTVU and CBS Bay Area identified the man who died as Cutberto Zamora-Martinez, 49, of San Joaquin County. KTVU reported that he was working in the area when he was struck. KTVU also reported, citing a source close to the investigation, that the victims were carpet installers arriving for work. (abc7news.com) A fundraising page described Zamora-Martinez as a husband and father, but officials have not used that language in the charging announcement. ### Which building was hit, and what happened to it? (ktvu.com) New Lun Ting Cafe, also known as New Lung Ting Cafe or the Pork Chop House in some local reports, was the building struck in the crash, according to KTVU, ABC7 and NBC Bay Area. Video and photos published by local outlets showed an SUV lodged in the front of the restaurant after the collision. (ktvu.com) ABC7 reported that city officials later deemed the building unsafe, forcing the business to close temporarily. Jackson Street later reopened while the investigation continued. ### Why did the crash draw attention beyond the criminal case? The intersection of Jackson Street and Grant Avenue is part of San Francisco's High Injury Network, CBS Bay Area reported, citing the city's map of streets with the highest share of severe crashes. (ktvu.com) CBS said the network covers 13% of city streets and accounts for 74% of the most severe crashes. (abc7news.com) After the crash, CBS Bay Area reported that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency began "daylighting" the intersection to improve visibility between drivers and pedestrians. Prism News separately reported that SFMTA streets director Viktoriya Wise told a community meeting the agency would begin that work within one to two weeks. (cbsnews.com) ### What happens next in court? September 30, 2026, is Lu's next scheduled court date for a pre-trial hearing, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's office. The district attorney said the case remains under active investigation, and San Francisco police are still asking anyone with information to contact the department's tip line. (sfdistrictattorney.org) (cbsnews.com)