Cable Car Malfunction Leaves 15 Passengers Injured in Terrifying Incident

A San Francisco cable car came to a sudden and terrifying stop on Monday afternoon, injuring more than a dozen passengers, authorities said.

The San Francisco Fire Department reported that 15 people sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate after the cable car abruptly stopped and jostled riders inside. Two people were hospitalized with moderate injuries, 11 were treated for minor aches and pains, and two declined assistance at the scene.

Officials told ABC7 that an object may have been thrown at the cable car, causing the abrupt halt, though authorities have not officially confirmed what triggered the incident. Some of the car’s windows were completely shattered in the chaos, and video shared by fire officials showed multiple ambulances surrounding the stopped vehicle.

“Safety for our passengers on all Muni vehicles continues to be our top priority. We’ll be conducting a full review of incident details to ensure continued safety on the cable cars,” the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said in a statement.

San Francisco’s iconic cable cars, which first began operating in the 1870s and were designated a National Historic Landmark in the 1960s, do not have seat belts. Passengers often ride hanging off the cars, which are partially open-air, making sudden stops especially dangerous.

The San Francisco Fire Department and SFMTA are investigating the incident to determine exactly what caused the abrupt stop and injuries to passengers.