A Cruise autonomous vehicle (AV) was involved in a pedestrian accident in San Francisco on Monday night after the pedestrian was struck by another vehicle, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The incident occurred after the pedestrian was initially hit by a human-driven car, propelling her into the path of the Cruise robotaxi. Witnesses reported the woman became trapped under one of the AV’s wheels. The driver of the first vehicle reportedly fled the scene. The injured woman was hospitalized and listed in critical condition as of Tuesday morning.
According to video footage reviewed by the Chronicle, both vehicles were stopped at a red light side-by-side before the incident. When the light turned green, both entered the intersection. The pedestrian was then struck by the human-driven vehicle and subsequently impacted by the driverless Cruise car.
In a statement to MaagX, Cruise confirmed the initial collision, stating a “human-driven vehicle struck a pedestrian while traveling in the lane immediately to the left of a Cruise AV.” Cruise characterized the initial impact as “severe.” The company explained that as the pedestrian fell in front of the AV, it “braked aggressively to minimize the impact.”
Cruise expressed concern for the injured individual, stating, “Our heartfelt concern and focus is the wellbeing of the person who was injured and we are actively working with police to help identify the responsible driver.”
Photographs from the scene appear to show the rear left wheel of the Cruise AV slightly elevated, supporting witness accounts that the vehicle stopped on the woman’s leg, trapping her until firefighters could lift the AV.
This incident comes after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) granted Cruise and Waymo permission in August to expand their paid robotaxi services in San Francisco to 24/7 operation.
However, just days after the CPUC’s decision, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ordered Cruise to reduce its active robotaxi fleet by half following a collision with a fire truck that resulted in minor injuries to the AV’s passenger. Several other incidents involving Cruise AVs have been reported during their trial period on San Francisco streets. The DMV stated it is investigating these “recent concerning incidents.”
While it’s premature to draw definitive conclusions about Monday’s accident, and initial reports suggest the Cruise vehicle faced a difficult situation, the reports of the pedestrian being trapped under the wheel raise serious concerns. A forthcoming police report should provide further details about the incident.
