Overview
- Early Sunday morning, a sedan veered off Castro Street, tore through a streetside parklet and smashed into the front of Café Mystique while surveillance cameras recorded the crash.
- Video shows the driver exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot toward 18th Street, and police have impounded the car but have not located the suspect.
- Fire and police responders reported the driver appeared impaired, no injuries were reported, and city inspectors have yellow‑tagged the cafe because of structural damage.
- Neighboring businesses suffered heavy damage to outdoor furniture and heating elements, with one owner estimating repair and replacement costs near $20,000 and lost revenue from forced closures.
- Investigators are asking the public for tips and face pressure from local owners for stronger street safety enforcement to prevent similar late‑night crashes.