Waymo Self-Driving Car Vandalized and Set on Fire by Crowd in San Francisco

Waymo Self-Driving Vehicle Vandalized and Set on Fire in San Francisco

A Waymo self-driving vehicle was vandalized and set on fire by a crowd in San Francisco, according to a statement from Waymo, which is a subsidiary of Alphabet. This incident reflects a concerning trend of public hostility toward self-driving cars, especially following a previous accident involving a self-driving vehicle operated by General Motors' Cruise unit.

Details of the Incident

The attack occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Saturday (0500 GMT Sunday) when an individual from a crowd broke a car window and threw a firework inside the vehicle, causing it to ignite. Videos shared on social media depicted the electric vehicle engulfed in flames, emitting a large plume of black smoke.

Response and Investigation

Fortunately, the vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the incident, and no injuries have been reported. Waymo stated that it is collaborating with local authorities to address the situation, while the San Francisco fire department has transferred the case to the police for investigation.

Other Recent Incidents

Furthermore, last week, a driverless Waymo car was involved in a collision with a cyclist in San Francisco, resulting in minor injuries. This incident is currently under review by the state's auto regulator. In a separate incident on Oct. 2, a pedestrian was hit by another vehicle and subsequently thrown into the path of a self-driving Cruise vehicle. The pedestrian was dragged 20 feet (6 meters), prompting California to suspend the company's driverless testing license, and leading Cruise to withdraw all its U.S. self-driving vehicles from testing.