Waymo goes viral after blocking EMS during deadly Austin shooting [View all]

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/austin/article/waymo-austin-shooting-21948947.php

Waymo goes viral after blocking EMS during deadly Austin shooting
This is far from the first time Waymo has come under criticism.
By Peter L. Scamardo II, Regional Editor
March 1, 2026






Amid the chaos of a deadly mass shooting that rocked Austin in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 1, a self-driving vehicle company is facing scrutiny after one of its cars got caught up in the aftermath. Waymo, the self-driving cars that recently launched in San Antonio, have made their presence known in Austin over the past few years, notoriously causing traffic jams whenever the robots get confused. Such was the case on Sunday in the wake of the traumatic mass shooting.

The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday at Buford's Backyard Beer Garden on West Sixth Street in Austin. The incident left three dead, including the gunman, and dozens more injured. But as first responders rushed to the scene and patrons fled to safety, a Waymo went viral after blocking an Austin-Travis County EMS ambulance as the self-driving car attempted a U-turn and proceeded to get stuck in Austin traffic.

The moment was caught on video by Austin realtor Matthew Turnage, whose video has since been viewed over 250,000 times. In the video the Waymo is shown in the middle of an Austin street, apparently unable to complete the U-turn as the ATC EMS ambulance inches closer. The Waymo slightly moves up but freezes at the most inopportune time.

A person can be heard shouting "This is why we shouldn't have self-driving cars" as another urges Waymo to "go!" It takes so long that the EMS reverses down the street to find another route. Finally after over a minute an Austin Police Department officer gets in the Waymo's driver seat and is able to drive it out of the road.

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