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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Technology
Rose Horowitch

Cruise robotaxi appears to hinder emergency crews after mass shooting

Chevrolet Cruise autonomous vehicles in a parking lot in San Francisco, California.
Chevrolet Cruise autonomous vehicles in a parking lot in San Francisco, California. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A Cruise self-driving car appeared to hinder first responders as they tried to access the scene of a mass shooting in San Francisco’s Mission District on Friday night, raising concerns about robotaxis’ ability to safely offer rides throughout the city.

Emergency crews were responding to a shooting on 24th Street shortly after 9pm in which nine people were injured. In a video posted to Twitter, a Cruise self-driving car is seen in the road as an officer approaches it and says it’s “blocking emergency medical and fire. I’ve got to get it out of here now.” In a statement, Cruise maintained that the car did not block emergency access to the scene “at any point”.

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