The Oakland Tribune reports that William Brand, a longtime reporter there, died early this morning as a result of injuries suffered in a Muni train incident in San Francisco Feb. 8. He was 70.

Brand died at San Francisco General Hospital, surrounded by family and friends, according to a friend of the family, the Tribune said.

A recently retired reporter, Brand was walking near Second and King streets around 9:10 p.m. Feb. 8 when he was hit by oncoming N-Judah train, according to police. Brand was knocked into a nearby pole by the impact.
The investigation is continuing, but it appears to have been an accident, police said.

Brand retired from regular news gathering at the Tribune in November after 27 years at the paper. He continued to write a well-read beer blog titled “What’s On Tap.”

The Tribune says that on the night he was struck by the train, Brand was returning from the 21st Amendment Brewery on Second Street where he had attended a food and beer pairing event he was writing about for his blog.

A memorial service is planned and details will be announced later today.

Here’s a link to the guest book where friends can leave comments. (Photo credit: Tribune, Nick Lammers)