Four San Francisco bicyclists struck by rampaging SUV

The driver, according to witnesses, drove on the wrong side of the road and deliberately ran down the victims, Tomioka said.

"He was definitely targeting them. We continue to actively search for this suspect,” Tomioka said.

The hit-and-run driver could face charges ranging from assault with a deadly weapon to attempted murder, Tomioka added.

Police said the driver hit three male bicyclists in quick succession. He hit a fourth rider a few minutes later and fled the scene after crashing his vehicle into a light pole and a parked Jeep Cherokee.

The injured bicyclists all suffered non-life threatening injuries with a combination of broken bones, lacerations and bruises.

Three of them were taken to San Francisco General Hospital and a fourth was treated at the scene, police said. Their names have not been released.

"They’re certainty banged up and shook up, but their outlook appears to be good,” Rachael Kagan, a hospital spokeswoman, said Thursday. "We expect each of them to recover.”

The incident led Mayor Gavin Newsom to reiterate that San Francisco remains one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation.

"We will not tolerate violence or rage against cyclists or pedestrians,” Newsom said in a written statement. "I urge anyone with information that will help identify and capture the suspect to come forward and notify the Police department immediately.”

Renee Rivera, executive director of the 11,000-member San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said Thursday that she was saddened by the tragedy but noted that there are a record number of people of all ages riding bicycles in the city.

"San Francisco streets are safe and getting safer every day,” Rivera said.