A driverless Waymo car was found vandalized and on fire in San Francisco, after several bystanders shared the moment on social media.
The incident allegedly started after someone jumped on the hood of the car and broke its windshield.
Waymo Car Receives Damage While Waiting
According to the report, the Waymo car was an electric Jaguar I-Pace that was waiting for the crowd to settle down as the fireworks were setting off during the Lunar New Year celebration on Jackson street.
A firework was also lit under the car and although nothing happened at the time it was loud enough to disperse the crowd. The footage also showed people crowding and vandalizing the car in the middle of the street before it lit up.
happening NOW in SF. Waymo car vandalized & lit on fire 🤯@sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/OEZYFiy6mv
— Michael Vandi (@michael_vandi) February 11, 2024
"I'm not sure what happened next but it's my understanding that fireworks [were] lit (now inside the car) then there was smoke for about 30 seconds before full-on flames started," bystander Michael Vandi shared to The Autopian.
San Francisco Fire Department Rescues Waymo Car
After a few minutes, the San Francisco Fire Department arrived on the scene while the Waymo car was still on fire. The department then reported that the vehicle had windows broken and fireworks lit on fire inside it.
Meanwhile, Waymo confirmed that there were no passengers in the vehicle. In addition, the police reported that the incident had no reports of injuries.
Last year, city officials and residents voiced their opposition to giving driverless operations a license for 24/7 service. On the other hand, vandalism and defacement are common incidents in the country, especially on transportation vehicles.
The Waymo One ride-hailing service has been operational across all of San Francisco. It is also available in Phoenix and is currently in public testing in Los Angeles.
