Out-of-control Waymo van crashes into parked cars in Los Angeles

Surveillance footage shows the van veering off the road and striking multiple vehicles in the Echo Park neighborhood.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:07pm

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A Waymo autonomous vehicle being manually driven by a third-party employee veered off the road in Los Angeles' Echo Park neighborhood on Sunday, crashing into several parked cars. The incident was captured on surveillance video, showing the van swerving off the road, hitting a street sign, and then swerving back onto the road before colliding with multiple vehicles. Waymo is investigating the cause of the incident, and the driver has been prohibited from operating other vehicles as the probe continues.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicle technology, even when a human driver is in control. It also highlights the potential risks to public safety when self-driving cars are operated on city streets, especially in dense urban areas like Echo Park.

The details

The surveillance footage shows the Waymo Zeekr van veering off the road next to some homes in Echo Park before crashing into several parked cars. According to neighbors, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Sunday in the 1200 block of Lilac Place, just off Vin Scully Avenue near Dodger Stadium. The van struck a street sign and then swerved back onto the road, colliding with multiple parked vehicles. A Waymo spokesperson confirmed that the van was being manually driven by a third-party employee, not in autonomous mode, and that the driver exited the vehicle on their own with no reported injuries.

  • The incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Sunday, January 28, 2026.
  • The surveillance footage captured the van veering off the road and crashing into parked cars.

The players

Waymo

An autonomous driving company and subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Salvador Donantonio

A resident of the Echo Park neighborhood who says his car was damaged and he had to run to avoid being hit by the out-of-control Waymo van.

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What they’re saying

“Well, this car's coming straight to me, and then I just run. I just ran for my life because I was between two cars, smashed.”

— Salvador Donantonio, Resident (CBS LA)

What’s next

Waymo officials are investigating the cause of the incident and have prohibited the driver, a third-party employee, from operating other vehicles while the probe continues.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and risks associated with the deployment of autonomous vehicle technology, even when a human driver is in control. It underscores the need for robust safety measures and continued oversight to ensure the safe operation of self-driving cars on public roads, especially in dense urban areas.