Video surfaced on social media showing an automated vehicle blocking an ATCEMS ambulance as it was heading toward the scene following the shooting.
AUSTIN, Texas — Some members of the Austin City Council are seeking answers from Waymo after video showed one of its vehicles blocking an ambulance as it was responding to the scene of the mass shooting at Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street on March 1.
The video, which was taken in the moments immediately following the shooting, shows a Waymo stopped across both lanes of traffic as an ambulance approaches. An Austin police officer is eventually seen accessing the car and driving it into the driveway of a parking garage.
Representatives for Waymo told KVUE on March 1 they were investigating the incident but declined to comment on the record.
ATCEMS Chief Robert Luckritz said the incident with the Waymo car did not affect the overall response to the shooting.
The letter, authored by Councilman Zo Qadri (District 9) and co-signed by councilmembers José “Chito” Vela (District 4), José Velásquez (District 3), Paige Ellis (District 8) and Krista Laine (District 6), asks officials with the autonomous vehicle company to attend a meeting on April 29 to discuss how to better coordinate with the city’s public safety agencies during emergency situations.
The full text of the letter can be read below:
“We are writing in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting that took place in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 1, in downtown Austin. As our community continues to grieve the lives lost and support those who were injured, we are also closely reviewing all aspects of the emergency response to ensure our public safety systems operate as effectively as possible during moments of crisis.
“Footage that circulated widely online appears to show a Waymo vehicle positioned in a manner that obstructed first responders on Nueces Street as they were working to access the scene. Reports indicate that it took approximately two minutes for a law enforcement officer to physically move the vehicle.
“While our first responders have shared that this incident did not ultimately prevent them from arriving at the scene or providing care, it is unacceptable that emergency personnel had to divert their attention and leave their vehicles during an active emergency response to move an autonomous vehicle out of the way. In situations like this, every second matters, and first responders must be able to move quickly and without additional obstacles.
“As autonomous vehicle technology continues to operate on Austin’s streets, it is critical that these systems are able to fully recognize and respond appropriately to emergency situations and the presence of first responders. Our community must have confidence that these vehicles will never create additional barriers during life-saving response efforts.
“To that end, we invite Waymo representatives to attend a joint meeting of the Austin City Council’s Public Safety Committee and Mobility Committee on April 29th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss this incident and identify steps that can be taken to ensure stronger coordination between Waymo’s operations and Austin’s public safety agencies. We believe a collaborative discussion will help ensure that emergency response in our city remains swift, safe, and unobstructed.
‘We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to working together to address these concerns.”
The shooting outside Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street on March 1 left four people dead, including the suspect, and at least 18 people injured. Two victims, 21-year-old Savitha Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, were pronounced dead shortly after the shooting. On March 2, a third victim, 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, who had recently moved to Austin, died at the hospital.