DRIVERLESS DISASTER

Waymo Cars Left Stranded After Battery Issue in Heavy Traffic

More than a dozen vehicles ground to a halt.

A fleet of Waymo self-driving cars was left stranded in San Francisco after their batteries ran flat while trapped in gridlock following the city’s Fourth of July fireworks celebrations. Videos verified by NBC News showed more than a dozen inactive Waymo vehicles, many of them Jaguar I-PACE SUVs, blocking streets before being towed away. The company blamed the incident on extraordinary congestion caused by road closures, huge crowds, and traffic disruptions after the fireworks display. A Waymo spokesperson added that the company is reviewing how its vehicles can better handle similar situations. One passenger told NBC Bay Area her driverless car continued moving as someone ignited fireworks in the road, while another motorist described frustrated drivers “yelling and screaming at these Waymos because there were no drivers.” Waymo said one vehicle also caught fire after driving over fireworks. No injuries were reported.