2 Cruise Robotaxis Involved In SF Crashes Day After City's Pushback: Report

SAN FRANCISCO — Two Cruise driverless cars were reportedly involved in separate crashes Thursday, and the company said it is investigating one of them that involved an emergency vehicle and left one rider injured.

Cruise wrote on a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that one of its cars was involved in a collision at Polk and Turk streets. The intersection is in the city's Tenderloin section near City Hall. The collision happened around 10 p.m., according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

The Cruise car entered the intersection on a green light and was struck by an emergency vehicle that "appeared to be en route to an emergency scene," the company said.

"Our car contained one passenger who was treated on scene and transported via ambulance for what we believe are non-severe injuries," Cruise said.

It later added in an email to The Chronicle that the passenger was walking and talking to emergency responders before being taken to the hospital.

The company said its primary concern is for the rider and their welfare, and that it has reached out to offer support.

"We are also deeply mindful of the well-being of the first responders and any individuals affected by this incident," Cruise said, adding: "We are investigating to better understand our AVs performance, and will be in touch with the City of San Francisco about the event."

The Chronicle reported a Cruise car was also involved in a second collision, this time at 26th and Mission streets. In that wreck, the empty, driverless car entered the intersection on a green light and the other car ran a red light while speeding, the company said.

The driverless car braked but could not avoid the collision, according to the report. The driver of the other car was treated and released at the scene.

The crashes come a day after David Chiu, the San Francisco city attorney, filed two motions urging the state's Public Utilities Commission to reverse its decision allowing driverless car companies Waymo and Cruise permission to grow their fleets without capping the number of robotaxis they can release onto the city's roadways.