Critically Injured Patient Dies as Driverless Taxis Block Ambulance
Two Cruise driverless taxis were involved in a tragic incident in San Francisco where an ambulance carrying a critically injured patient was blocked, resulting in the patient’s death. This unfortunate event adds to the growing concerns surrounding self-driving cars in the city.
According to a report from the San Francisco fire department, on August 14, two Cruise autonomous vehicles had come to a stop in the right two lanes of a four-lane, one-way street located in the SoMa neighborhood. It was in this area that the victim was found. The report stated that a police vehicle in another lane had to be moved before the ambulance could pass through. Unfortunately, the driverless vehicles caused a delay in transportation and medical care. The patient, who had been struck by a car, was declared dead about 20 to 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital, which was approximately 4km away from the accident scene.
Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors specializing in autonomous vehicles, maintains that they were not at fault. The company shared footage with The New York Times, which seemed to show that one of their vehicles had left the scene before the victim was loaded into the ambulance. The second vehicle remained in the right lane until after the ambulance had departed. Additionally, the footage revealed that other vehicles, including another ambulance, had passed by the right side of the Cruise taxi without obstruction. In a statement, Cruise mentioned that the ambulance left immediately and was never hindered by their vehicle.
San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson emphasized the importance of time in such critical situations, highlighting the fact that responders were unable to promptly access the patient. Nicholson expressed her disappointment in Cruise, stating that the company has yet to take responsibility for any incidents and called for further discussions on the matter.
This incident is not an isolated one, as the fire department reported more than 70 cases of autonomous vehicles interfering with emergency responders in the city. San Francisco officials have been vocal in their opposition to the expansion of driverless taxi services, citing instances where these cars have blocked emergency vehicles and disrupted active firefighting and crime scenes. Moreover, since the introduction of driverless taxi services, there have been reports of these vehicles blocking traffic and even getting stuck in wet cement. As recently as August 17, a Cruise vehicle collided with a firetruck.
The concerns raised by these incidents highlight the need for careful consideration and regulation as autonomous vehicles become more prevalent on our roads. While there are undoubtedly many potential benefits to these technological advancements, it is crucial to ensure the safety and efficiency of our emergency response systems are not compromised.
In conclusion, the unfortunate death of a critically injured patient due to blocked access by driverless taxis has once again drawn attention to the challenges posed by self-driving cars in San Francisco. This incident, along with numerous others, underscores the necessity for ongoing discussions and measures to address the concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles and emergency response situations.
