“We like to snorkel and he likes doing whatever we are doing with us. So I thought, ‘let’s figure out a way to let him snorkel with us.’”
A routine trip to the hospital took a dramatic turn for one San Francisco pregnant woman this week when she unexpectedly delivered her baby in the backseat of a Waymo robotaxi, the company confirmed.
According to Waymo, its remote rider support team picked up on “unusual activity” during the Monday night ride.
The team reached out to the passenger and contacted 911 as a precaution. Before emergency responders could arrive, the woman gave birth inside the vehicle, which continued on to the hospital.
Jess Berthold, a spokesperson for the University of California San Francisco Hospital, verified that both mother and newborn arrived at the hospital Monday night. Berthold added that the mother was not available for interviews.
"We’re proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young," a Waymo spokesperson said. "We wish the new family all the best, and we look forward to safely getting them where they’re going through many of life’s events."
The company also noted the unusual delivery in a separate statement. "Earlier this week in San Francisco, a mother in labor hailed a Waymo to the hospital and ended up with an extra surprise: her baby delivered in the backseat. Some people just can’t wait for their first Waymo ride."
Now, on December 11, a woman in Los Angeles is sharing a very different kind of Waymo experience—one that’s quickly gone viral on TikTok. In her video, she explains that she ordered a Waymo ride for her daughter, only to discover a stranger hiding in the robotaxi’s trunk when the vehicle arrived.
Confused and alarmed, the mother can be heard shouting, “Why the f*** are you in the trunk?!”
The man responds from inside the compartment, punching the back of the headrest as he insists, “This s*** won’t let me out.”
He then claims he was put there against his will, saying, “They put me in here. The people. The people.”In response to the incident, Waymo addressed the viral video telling the New York Post, “We’re committed to keeping our riders safe and earning the trust of the communities where we operate. This experience was unacceptable, and we are actively implementing changes to address this.”
