Cutberto Zamora-Martinez Killed in SF Pedestrian Accident
76-year-old driver arrested for vehicular manslaughter after vehicle jumps Chinatown sidewalk
Cutberto Zamora-Martinez, 49, of San Joaquin County, was killed in a pedestrian accident near Grant Avenue and Jackson Street in San Francisco on Friday, March 27, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Zhuo Ming Lu, 76, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and speeding.
Investigators said Lu was attempting to park when his vehicle jumped the sidewalk and crashed into the landmark New Lung Ting Café, striking two pedestrians. Zamora-Martinez died from his injuries, and the second pedestrian was also hurt in the collision.
The men were carpet installers arriving for work.
Lu initially cooperated with investigators at the scene before his arrest. Police have not confirmed if pedal confusion or other factors caused the vehicle to accelerate onto the sidewalk.
The restaurant was boarded up following the collision, and the investigation remains ongoing.
When a driver faces vehicular manslaughter charges, the criminal proceedings often run parallel to civil investigations. While police focus on statutory violations like speeding, independent investigators examine the broader circumstances that led a vehicle onto a busy Chinatown sidewalk. "Losing a loved one to a vehicle while they're simply walking is a nightmare no one should endure," said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "Speed matters because a person hit at forty miles per hour only has a fifteen percent chance of survival."
According to the California Highway Patrol, 764 pedestrians were killed statewide in 2024, highlighting the severe risks vulnerable road users face in dense urban environments like San Francisco.
Families like that of Zamora-Martinez often face immediate financial and emotional burdens while waiting for the criminal justice system to process the at-fault driver. "We can't ignore the rising number of neighbors we lose just for walking across the street. A pedestrian hit at forty miles per hour only has a fifteen percent chance of surviving," said Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legal
While the criminal case against the driver proceeds, families of victims killed in pedestrian accidents may pursue separate civil actions to address the loss of a primary provider.
Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. California applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.