Leal leaves hospital

San Francisco Public Utilities head Susan Leal - who was struck by a minivan
outside City Hall yesterday - was released from hospital this morning.
File photo by Luke Thomas

By Ari Burack

December 18, 2007

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Susan Leal was released from the hospital this morning and is expected to return to work next week after being struck by a minivan Monday in front of City Hall, an SFPUC spokesman said.

According to SFPUC spokesman Tony Winnicker, Leal suffered "significant bruising and some general discomfort," but no major injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. "At the advice of physicians, she will return home to recuperate over the next several days, but is expected to return to work fulltime next week," Winnicker said. She left the hospital at about 9 a.m., he said.

Leal was hit by a minivan in the crosswalk on the Polk Street side of City Hall at about noon Monday, according to Winnicker. She was thrown nearly 30 feet and taken to San Francisco General Hospital for evaluation and treatment, he said.

San Francisco police said Monday that the driver was not cited and was not believed to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.

Winnicker said a woman driving the minivan told police she did not see Leal in the crosswalk, and pulled over afterward. The driver was quite shaken as well, and was also taken to a hospital for observation, Winnicker said.

Leal, a former San Francisco supervisor, was appointed to head the SFPUC in 2004.

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