Overview

• An empty Waymo on Rural Road near Arizona State University around 1:30 a.m. slowed to make a right turn and, per the company, had its signals on and stopped for pedestrians.
• A motorcyclist then rear-ended the vehicle, after which another car struck the rider and reportedly fled; the motorcyclist died at a hospital.
• Waymo says its cameras recorded the incident and provided the fleeing vehicle’s license plate to Tempe police.
• The robotaxi remained stopped and connected to Waymo’s remote operations team, and the company says it is cooperating with law enforcement and regulators.
• Investigations are ongoing; liability has not been determined, though rear-end cases typically fault the trailing driver, and this is the third U.S. fatal incident involving a robocar.