A pedestrian in San Francisco suffered severe life-threatening injuries after being struck by a human-driven vehicle and subsequently run over by an autonomous vehicle, triggering concerns about the safety and response capabilities of autonomous vehicles during unexpected incidents.
The incident unfolded late on a Monday night when a human-driven vehicle struck a pedestrian before leaving the scene. This collision forced the pedestrian directly in front of an autonomous Cruise vehicle, which, regrettably, ran over the injured individual and came to a stop atop her. Cruise, the autonomous vehicle company involved, was quick to clarify that their vehicle was not at fault for the initial collision.
According to Justin Schorr, spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department, the pedestrian sustained multiple life-threatening injuries as a result of the incident.
Here is an eyewitness video of the woman stuck under the Cruise being recused.
Warning: Slightly graphic ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/B1iFZek5Ze
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The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a witness had submitted a photo depicting the autonomous vehicle seemingly immobilized on the woman’s leg while she lay underneath it. Firefighters, in coordination with Cruise, took measures to disable the vehicle and utilized specialized equipment to lift it off the injured pedestrian.
Cruise has pledged its full cooperation with local law enforcement, offering crash footage and pertinent data for the investigation. However, the incident has prompted important questions regarding how autonomous vehicles manage unforeseen situations. It is plausible that the nature of the accident may have made it impossible to prevent the collision.
If it indeed transpired that the Cruise autonomous vehicle ended up immobilized on the woman’s leg, this raises significant concerns about the vehicle’s response in such a critical moment. A human driver would likely possess the instinct to swiftly adjust the vehicle’s position to alleviate the weight on the injured party. At present, the woman remains in critical condition while authorities intensify efforts to locate the driver responsible for the initial hit-and-run.
The San Francisco Police Department’s Traffic Division continues its investigation and seeks assistance from anyone with information related to the incident. Information can be provided by contacting 415-575-4444 or through text to TIP411.
