Story perspectives

Waymo Car Driven by Deputy Clears Access After Deadly Fire

6/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Deputy Constable Jonathan Banda drove a Waymo autonomous car to clear fire-engine access after the June 5 Clyde apartment blast.
The five-alarm fire destroyed the 22-unit building, killing three, injuring five, and drawing over 100 firefighters.
Waymo said remote assistance unlocked the car, noted training of over 35,000 first responders, and cited Alex Del Carmen’s call for stronger regulation of autonomous-vehicle delays in emergencies.

History

Historical Context

On March 18 2018, an Uber test vehicle struck pedestrian Elaine Herzberg in Tempe, Arizona, marking the first recorded self-driving car fatality. The crash led Governor Doug Ducey to suspend Uber’s testing, forced Uber to forgo its California permit, and prompted NTSB criticism after the system ordered emergency braking just 1.3 seconds before impact. The episode spurred stricter rules and Waymo’s 2023 call for clearer autonomous-vehicle regulations.

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Story summary

Deputy Constable Jonathan Banda drove a Waymo autonomous car to clear fire-engine access after the June 5 Clyde apartment blast.
The five-alarm fire destroyed the 22-unit building, killing three, injuring five, and drawing over 100 firefighters.
Waymo said remote assistance unlocked the car, noted training of over 35,000 first responders, and cited Alex Del Carmen’s call for stronger regulation of autonomous-vehicle delays in emergencies.

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