A Cruise self-driving automobile was concerned in an accident with a San Francisco Hearth Division truck only one week after California regulators accepted 24-7 robotaxi service in San Francisco.
The incident occurred on Thursday round 10 PM within the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, on the intersection of Polk and Turk Streets, Cruise stated in a submit on X, the social media platform previously generally known as Twitter. One individual was transported by way of ambulance with what the corporate believed had been “non-severe accidents.”
“One in every of our automobiles entered the intersection on a inexperienced mild and was struck by an emergency car that gave the impression to be en path to an emergency scene,” Cruise posted to X. A video obtained by ABC 7 confirmed it was a fireplace truck.
The San Francisco Police Division was not instantly out there for touch upon the matter.
“Our main concern is the rider and their welfare, and we now have reached out to supply assist. We’re additionally deeply conscious of the well-being of the primary responders and any people affected by this incident,” Cruise stated in an X submit.
California’s Public Utility Fee voted 3 to 1 final week to approve the rollout of driverless, fare-collecting automobiles in San Francisco. Self-driving automobiles from Cruise and Alphabet-subsidiary Waymo had already change into common sights on San Francisco roads within the previous months.
In lower than every week, the driverless robotaxis had been creating site visitors jams, CNBC has beforehand reported. The corporate has already reached 4 million driverless miles, in keeping with CEO Kyle Vogt.
San Francisco firefighters had expressed concern concerning the rollout earlier than the incident occurred. “Our people can’t be being attentive to an autonomous car once we’ve received ladders to throw,” San Francisco Hearth chief Jeanine Nicholson stated at a public assembly forward of the Fee’s approval, NPR reported.
Nicholson cited a number of situations of self-driving automobiles obstructing emergency operations within the assembly, together with blocking firehouse doorways, working via emergency tape, and obstructing roadways.
Cruise turned a Common Motors subsidiary in 2016, in keeping with PitchBook information. The corporate was final valued at $30 billion in 2021, and minority buyers embrace Microsoft, Honda, and Walmart, in keeping with PitchBook information.
Cruise didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.