San Francisco Police Investigators Make Arrest in Fatal Civic Center Hit and Run Collision 21-098

Investigators from the SFPD Traffic Collision Investigation Unit (TCIU) have made an arrest in connection with the May 18, 2021 fatal, hit and run traffic collision at Polk and Hayes Streets.

In that incident, San Francisco Police officers from Northern Station responded to the intersection of Polk and Hayes Streets at approximately 7:00 p.m. for a report of a vehicle collision involving two vehicles and pedestrians. Officers arrived on scene and located two victims, both pedestrians. The female victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The male victim was transported and remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation indicates that a Chevy Avalanche collided with an Audi A6. The Avalanche then struck the two pedestrians. The driver of the Avalanche fled on foot following the collision. There were four victims in the Audi at the time of the collision. Two of the victims were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Through the course of an investigation, SFPD investigators identified the driver of the hit and run vehicle as the registered owner of the Avalanche. Virgil Woods, age 57, of San Francisco was arrested at 850 Bryant Street on May 21, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Woods was booked into the San Francisco County Jail on the following arrest charges, vehicular manslaughter - gross negligence (192 (c)(1) PC), vehicular manslaughter in the commission of an unlawful act (192 (c)(2) PC), two counts of felony hit and run (20001(a) VC), reckless driving (23103(a) VC), reckless driving resulting in bodily injury (23104 VC), reckless driving resulting in serious injury (23105 VC), failing to stop for a red traffic signal (21453(a) VC), filing a false police report (148.5 PC), destruction of evidence (135 PC), and possession of narcotics paraphernalia (11364 HS).

Following the hit and run incident, Woods discarded articles of clothing in an apparent effort to conceal his identity and later filed a false police report stating that his Avalanche had been stolen. At the time of his arrest Woods was found in possession of several glass smoking pipes commonly used to ingest narcotics.

While an arrest has been made, this remains and open investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD 24-hour Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.