Driver in fatal S.F. crash has past violations

Mageb Hussain, 27, of Emeryville was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run after allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian at Van Ness and Pacific avenues on Tuesday, Feb 12. Mageb Hussain, 27, of Emeryville was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run after allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian at Van Ness and Pacific avenues on Tuesday, Feb 12. Photo: Courtesy Of San Francisco Police Photo: Courtesy Of San Francisco Police Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Driver in fatal S.F. crash has past violations 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

A driver with a checkered record was arrested early Wednesday as he tried to walk away from the scene of a crash on Van Ness Avenue in which he struck and killed a pedestrian, San Francisco police said.

Mageb Hussain, a 27-year-old Emeryville resident, was driving a silver 2009 Toyota from a rental agency when he allegedly struck and killed the victim about 1 a.m. at Van Ness and Pacific avenues.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was attempting to cross the street in the middle of the block. The victim died at the scene.

Police said Hussain's speed appeared to be a factor in the crash, but that drugs and alcohol did not appear to play a role. He was arrested and jailed on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run, both felonies, police said.

According to the state Department of Motor Vehicles, Hussain has a checkered driving record.

In March and April of 2011, he was cited twice for speeding and once for driving on a sidewalk in three incidents. He later failed to make court appearances, records show, and his license was suspended in November 2011 - an action that ended in October of last year. Hussain's license is currently valid, the DMV said.

The crash was the latest in a string of pedestrian fatalities in San Francisco. Last year, 21 pedestrians were killed, with six in December alone, making it the deadliest year since 2007.

Wednesday's incident was the third pedestrian death of 2014. The first one also happened on Van Ness, near Grove Street, when 38-year-old Antonio Cancino of San Francisco was struck and killed as he tried to run across the street Jan. 7. The driver in that incident remained at the scene and was not charged.

On Feb. 4, a 78-year-old man, Isaak Berenzon of San Francisco, was struck and killed as he tried to cross Sunset Boulevard at Yorba Street. The driver, 71-year-old Jenny Ching, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.