Waymo Robotaxi Collides on Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles — One Woman Critically Injured

Early Saturday at about 5:45 a.m., a Waymo robotaxi and another vehicle collided on the 1000 block of Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to reports of the two-vehicle crash, and two people were transported to hospital. One woman is in critical condition.

What We Know

Authorities have released few details about how the collision occurred and have not identified fault. The LAPD remained on scene investigating the circumstances of the crash at the time of the initial reports.

Waymo Response

According to KTLA 5, Waymo said it is cooperating with first responders and appreciates the rapid emergency response. The company reiterated that the safety of people on the road is a top priority.

Investigation

Investigators will piece together evidence including dash-cam footage, witness statements, physical evidence at the scene and sensor/system data from the Waymo vehicle. Autonomous vehicles typically generate a detailed digital record—lidar, radar, camera feeds and telemetry—which can be useful when reconstructing collisions, though officials cautioned the inquiry is still in early stages.

Context

Waymo has expanded its robotaxi operations across several major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles. As any large vehicle fleet accumulates miles, the statistical likelihood of incidents increases; that does not determine fault in any particular case but does help explain the heightened attention that collisions involving self-driving vehicles often attract.

Any crash that results in a critical injury is a serious matter. We will monitor the LAPD investigation and update this report as officials release more information.