Cruise robotaxi hits fire engine

A Cruise automated vehicle collided with a fire engine en route to an emergency at a road intersection in San Francisco, resulting in a regulatory investigation and an order to take half its robotaxis off the road immediately until the investigation has been completed.

In a statement on its website, Cruise said one of its cars 'entered the intersection on a green light and was struck by an emergency vehicle that appeared to be en route to an emergency scene.' According to Cruise, the car 'did identify the risk of a collision and initiated a braking maneuver, reducing its speed, but was ultimately unable to avoid the collision.'

San Francisco Police Department told Reuters that the fire engine had its siren and forward facing red lights on. The police said the sole passenger in the autonomous vehicle (AV) was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.