
A Cruise robotaxi collided with a San Francisco Fire Department vehicle Thursday night while it was responding to an emergency call. The ambulance transported one passenger with non-severe injuries. This accident happened one week after California allowed for self-driving car companies, including Cruise, to collect fares in San Francisco after a series of tests. Previously, the fire leadership in the city had expressed apprehensions about self-driving cars impeding emergency operations.
A Cruise autonomous car was involved in a crash with a vehicle belonging to the San Francisco Fire Department only seven days after the California PUC voted to allow 24/7 robotaxi services in the city. The accident occurred at 10PM on Thursday at the Polk and Turk intersection in San Francisco's Tenderloin district and there was one casualty, though the injuries were considered non-serious. According to Cruise's X post, the car had entered the intersection on a green light and was struck by the fire truck. The SFPD could not be contacted for comment. Cruise reassured that their primary concern was the injured rider and they had reached out to provide assistance. They also noted that they were mindful of the first responders and others involved in the incident.
Driverless robotaxis had already been seen on San Francisco roads during the weeks leading up to the PUC's approval. CNBC reported that the cars had already caused traffic jams soon after the rollout. As of 2021, CEO Kyle Vogt announced that Cruise had reached 4 million driverless miles.
Prior to the accident, the SFFD had voiced alarm at the rollout. Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson cited multiple instances of self-driving cars getting in the way of emergency operations during a public meeting, including blocking firehouse doors, running through emergency tape, and obstructing roadways. Cruise has since become a GM subsidiary in 2016 and is currently valued at $30 billion with minority investors such as Microsoft, Honda and Walmart. Cruise did not respond to a request for further comment.
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