Overview
- Bystander video from West 6th and Nueces shows a driverless car stopped perpendicular to traffic, causing an ambulance to reverse and seek another route.
- Waymo confirmed the vehicle was heading to a pickup near the scene, detected a road blockage, began a U‑turn, and was then assisted by a police officer to clear the street.
- Austin‑Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said more than 20 units responded and the obstruction did not affect patient outcomes.
- First‑responder agencies say they train for stopped or unresponsive autonomous vehicles, and Texas law requires action plans and contact protocols with AV operators.
- The episode adds to scrutiny of the company’s operations after earlier incidents under federal review, as authorities continue investigating the shooting itself.