San Francisco medical examiner
to determine cause of Pittsburg man's death

By Lara Moscrip and Bridgid Gaffikin

May 29, 2007

A Pittsburg man is dead following a shooting and vehicle crash in San Francisco's Sunset district early this morning, according to authorities.

According to San Francisco police Sgt. Neville Gittens, it is unclear whether Simon Ruan, 32, died due to the shots that were fired at his vehicle, or due to injuries sustained when he lost control of his vehicle and was partially ejected from it.

Police reported that Ruan crashed, flipped his vehicle and was partially ejected in the 1300 block of Funston Avenue, but police report that the crash was actually in the 1300 block of 14th Avenue. The crash occurred around 1:55 a.m., police said.

He was pronounced dead at 2:03 a.m.

A female passenger in the vehicle was injured and hospitalized in stable condition after the crash, police reported. She did not sustain life threatening injuries, Gittens said.

Gittens said that it will be up to the medical examiner's office to determine the cause of Ruan's death.

Police are also investigating whether there was a chase involving Ruan and the person who shot at him. According to Gittens, the incident began near the intersection of Lincoln and 16th Avenue.

Police have no information on who shot at Ruan and have not made any arrests, Gittens said.

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