Waymo car drives over firework, passengers alarmed in SF

Passengers in a Waymo autonomous vehicle in San Francisco experienced a frightening moment during Fourth of July celebrations when the car drove over an exploding firework in the middle of a roadway. The incident occurred on the night of July 4 as the vehicle approached an intersection where a person was lighting the illegal firework. Video from inside the car shows passengers reacting in alarm as sparks and flames erupted near the vehicle, though no injuries were reported.

One passenger, Rose Peterson, described the experience as terrifying, stating that she and her fiancé were unharmed but shaken. She later said the person who set off the firework contacted her to apologize. In the video, passengers can be heard expressing concern that the vehicle was on fire as it continued along its route.

The fireworks incident unfolded amid a night of severe traffic congestion in northern San Francisco following holiday celebrations, including a city-sponsored fireworks display from the Golden Gate Bridge. The congestion caused significant operational problems for Waymo's fleet of electric vehicles. Several Waymo vehicles experienced battery depletion after becoming stuck in hours-long...