A crowd vandalized and set ablaze an unoccupied Waymo vehicle using fireworks while the car was in motion along a street in San Francisco's China Town area, as reported by the Google spinoff and Alphabet-owned Waymo. This incident marked the most destructive attack on autonomous vehicles in the United States thus far, according to authorities.
Michael Vandi, an eyewitness who documented the event through videos, informed Reuters that individuals were celebrating China's Lunar New Year by igniting fireworks. He recounted how a person leaped onto the Waymo vehicle's hood and shattered its windshield, followed by another individual repeating the action approximately 30 seconds later, while some in the crowd applauded. Vandi described the situation escalating rapidly, with individuals wielding skateboards breaking the glass and others defacing the car with graffiti.
In Vandi's footage, the vehicle was depicted engulfed in flames, emitting a massive plume of black smoke. Waymo stated that someone hurled a firework into the vehicle, igniting the fire. The fire department shared images on social media showing the car's charred remnants, attributing the blaze to a firework.
Waymo clarified that the vehicle was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported. The company affirmed its collaboration with local safety authorities to address the situation but did not specify the motive behind the attack.
The San Francisco Police Department confirmed an ongoing investigation into the fire's cause and refrained from disclosing any details regarding potential arrests.
The targeted electric car, identified as a Jaguar I-PACE, is outfitted with 29 cameras and various sensors.
This incident occurred just a day before the Super Bowl NFL championship featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. A Waymo spokesperson emphasized that the occurrence was isolated and assured the continuation of service amid the day's festivities.
While previous incidents involving harassment of self-driving cars have occurred, the severity of this attack underscores a possible surge in public animosity, particularly following a pedestrian-dragging accident involving a vehicle operated by General Motors' Cruise unit last year.
Instances of disruption involving self-driving vehicles in San Francisco and Phoenix, Arizona, have been documented previously, including attempts to obstruct their sensors and impede their progress.
Recently, a driverless Waymo car was involved in a collision with a cyclist in San Francisco, resulting in minor injuries. State auto regulators are currently reviewing the incident.
Waymo provides driverless ride-hailing services in Phoenix and aims to expand its operations to Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, while the autonomous vehicle industry continues to navigate challenges and public scrutiny in ensuring safety and acceptance.
