DALLAS — Dallas police are investigating a late-night fatal crash involving a pedestrian, an SUV, and an autonomous Waymo vehicle near the city’s Medical District.
According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to an auto-pedestrian collision in the 4500 block of Maple Avenue near Lucas Drive shortly after 11:30 p.m. Friday. Officers located an adult male lying in the street, where bystanders were attempting to provide emergency medical assistance. First responders transported the man to a nearby hospital, where medical staff later pronounced him dead.
A preliminary investigation by Dallas police indicates the man stepped into traffic outside of a designated crosswalk when an SUV traveling southwest on Maple Avenue struck him. The initial impact threw the pedestrian into the northbound lanes, directly into the path of an oncoming Waymo self-driving vehicle.
According to a statement from Waymo, the autonomous vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the collision. Company officials confirmed the vehicle’s onboard sensors detected the pedestrian and automatically reduced speed to approximately five miles per hour before the collision occurred. Waymo stated that the initial impact threw the pedestrian about 30 feet into the vehicle's rear driver-side area.
Waymo writes in a statement to KRLD - “The safety of our riders and other road users is our top priority. We are deeply saddened by what happened and our thoughts are with the individual’s family and friends. We are in touch with first responders and grateful for their quick response Friday evening.”
The driver of the SUV remained at the scene and cooperated fully with law enforcement, according to police officials. The Waymo vehicle also came to an immediate stop following the impact.
According to Dallas police, no other injuries were reported, and the identity of the victim remains withheld pending notification of next of kin. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash remains ongoing by the Dallas Police Department.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
