Golden Gate Bridge Reopens After Multiple Car Accident

San Francisco, CA (AHN) - The six lanes of the Gold Gate Bridge were reopened to motorists on Wednesday at around 4:20 p.m. following a multiple vehicle accident two hours earlier. The bridge was closed to traffic for both directions for around 90 minutes.

The collision involved a northbound station wagon which entered the southbound lanes and caused the crash of 9 other vehicles, the California Highway Patrol said. The Volvo wagon was driven by a Daly City resident on his way to Marin to attend school.

After the vehicle crossed over the plastic dividers, it hit a Lexus sports utility car, a Toyota Prius, a Honda and several other automobiles including a motorcycle.

The victims were sent to the San Francisco General Hospital and Marin General Hospital, CHP officer Mary Ziegenbein told the Associated Press. There were seven injured people as a result of the collision. Ziegenbein said the Volvo driver and the motorcyclist had serious injuries.

The famous bridge, an American landmark, connects San Francisco to Marin County. Since 1971, 36 drivers have died from vehicular accidents on the bridge. Following Wednesday's multiple car accident, Mary Currie, spokeswoman of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, told the San Francisco Chronicle the incident may speed up the purchase and installation of one-foot wide moveable barriers, costing $25 million in grants, to prevent future crossover accidents.