Waymo robotaxi blocks EMS responding to Austin mass shooting
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Waymo has been expanding its presence in Austin and across the U.S. In Austin, riders can call a Waymo through the Uber app. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
A Waymo robotaxi picking up a passenger near Sunday morning's mass shooting in Austin blocked an ambulance from reaching the scene, according to a bystander video. Waymo and EMS officials confirmed the video shows the company's vehicle blocking the ambulance.
Why it matters: The incident raises fresh questions about how autonomous vehicles operate near chaotic emergency scenes — and whether the technology is fully prepared for unpredictable, high-stakes situations.
- A Waymo official confirmed to Axios that the vehicle was en route to pick up a rider near the shooting on West Sixth Street, a popular downtown bar district.
Driving the news: A video circulating on social media shows a Waymo vehicle stopped and completely blocking a street as an ambulance attempts to pass.
- The autonomous vehicle slowly inches forward as a police cruiser pulls up behind it.
- An Austin police officer then gets out of the car to talk to the company through the car's speaker system. After at least a minute, the car drives away and into a parking garage, and the video ends.
What they're saying: "A driverless vehicle was stopped in the area while our crews were responding to this morning's shooting, and it did briefly interfere with access for one ambulance," Austin-Travis County EMS spokesperson Capt. Christa Stedman tells Axios.
- "The officer in the video followed established protocol to address the situation and was able to quickly move the vehicle so ATCEMS units could proceed," Stedman added.
First responders are trained on how to manage driverless vehicles that become stopped or unresponsive.
- "This type of scenario is something we prepare for, and it was resolved quickly without a significant impact to patient care or overall response operations," Stedman said.
Between the lines: Waymo has faced complaints in Austin and other cities about its vehicles failing to properly yield to emergency responders.
- In recent months, Waymo's cars have come under scrutiny for illegally passing Austin school district buses.
- The company issued a voluntary software recall in December in response to a federal safety probe of its vehicles for illegally passing school buses.
Zoom in: Austin has become a major testing ground for autonomous vehicles.
- Riders in Austin can be matched with a Waymo taxi through the Uber app.
What's next: The company is accelerating its rollout of robotaxis in the U.S., adding Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando last week.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a comment from an Austin-Travis County EMS spokesperson.