Waymo Vehicle Strikes Pedestrian in San Francisco While Under Manual Control
A Waymo self-driving vehicle hits a pedestrian in San Francisco, but the company confirms the human safety driver operates the car manually during the crash. The injured pedestrian goes to a local hospital for treatment as Waymo assists local authorities with the ongoing investigation.
A Waymo self-driving Jaguar I-Pace strikes a pedestrian in San Francisco's Lower Haight neighborhood, prompting a response from local fire trucks and first responders. A witness shares a photo and account of the aftermath on Reddit, explaining that the victim crosses the street before the vehicle makes contact. The pedestrian remains conscious and standing immediately after the crash but undergoes transport to a local hospital for further medical evaluation.
Waymo clarifies that the human safety driver operates the vehicle in manual mode at the time of the collision rather than relying on the autonomous software. The company issues an official statement confirming that the crash occurs during a manual-only mission. Because the self-driving system is disengaged, the incident does not meet the criteria for a reportable collision under the California Department of Motor Vehicles' autonomous vehicle testing regulations.
The incident gains significant public attention after the initial Reddit post circulates on Twitter, drawing comments from various prominent tech observers. Waymo emphasizes that the trust and safety of the communities where it tests remain paramount as it investigates the event. The company states it continues to partner with local authorities regarding the crash while adhering to standard state regulations that require reporting for all traffic accidents.