Waymo Vehicle Blocks First Responders During Austin Shooting

Video shows autonomous car obstructing emergency vehicles at deadly West Sixth Street incident.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A video shared with local news station KXAN shows a Waymo autonomous vehicle blocking emergency and first responder vehicles during the active scene of a deadly shooting on West Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. as the Waymo car was attempting to pick up passengers but became stuck in the middle of the street.

Why it matters

The video raises concerns about the ability of self-driving vehicles to navigate and respond appropriately during emergency situations, potentially impeding first responders from reaching victims and the scene quickly. It also highlights the need for better coordination and communication between autonomous vehicle companies and local emergency services.

The details

According to the report, viewer Matthew Turnage recorded the video after leaving a club in the area and ordering an Uber ride home. Turnage noticed the Uber ride was 'stuck' and captured footage of the Waymo vehicle blocking emergency vehicles on West Sixth Street and Nueces Street. The shooting early Sunday morning left three dead and more than a dozen injured, but Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said officers and emergency personnel were still able to respond rapidly to the incident.

  • The video was recorded around 2 a.m. on the morning of the shooting.
  • The deadly West Sixth Street shooting occurred early Sunday morning.

The players

Waymo

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

Matthew Turnage

A witness who recorded the video of the Waymo vehicle blocking emergency responders.

Lisa Davis

The Austin Police Chief who stated that officers and emergency personnel were able to respond rapidly to the shooting incident.

Robert Luckritz

The ACTEMS Chief who said medics were on the scene within 57 seconds of receiving the initial call.

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What they’re saying

“We left a club at 2 a.m. and were walking to get a ride home. We just so happened to get a Waymo car from Uber and when we found the car, it was trying to pick us up but got stuck in the middle of the street and blocked emergency vehicles for a couple of minutes.”

— Matthew Turnage (KXAN)

What’s next

Waymo has stated it is investigating the incident and working to improve its vehicles' ability to respond appropriately during emergency situations.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for autonomous vehicle companies to closely coordinate with local emergency services to ensure their vehicles do not inadvertently impede first responders during critical situations. As self-driving technology continues to advance, addressing these types of public safety concerns will be crucial.