A street-outreach worker from the Mission District was injured this past weekend when an autonomous vehicle operated by Zoox struck his parked car. Jamel Durden, affiliated with Ahsing Solutions and recognized as a street ambassador, was wrapping up a break and in the process of getting out of his 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille when the collision occurred near 15th and Mission streets, leaving Durden with a bruised hand, as reported by Mission Local.
While the Zoox robotaxi was proceeding straight down 15th Street, Durden's manager, Terraine Miller, said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that "His hand was smashed" when the vehicle hit his car door with Durden's hand still on it. Zoox's communication on the matter suggested that Durden suddenly opened his car door onto the path of the moving robotaxi, and though it tried to avoid him, "contact was unavoidable."
Zoox confirmed the incident occurred and stated they followed all necessary safety protocols, including offering medical assistance, which Durden initially declined. Photos at the scene showed Durden's vehicle with a dented door and broken glass around. Paramedics who arrived after the incident checked on Durden, but he refused to be taken to the hospital, not wanting to abandon his damaged car. He eventually fell into the hands of a tow truck. Durden later sought medical attention on his own.
Despite this recent collision, and with a previous incident involving an e-bike rider crashing into a Zoox reported last May, autonomous vehicles like those deployed by Zoox are touted for their safety features compared to human-piloted transport. Since starting their robotaxi services in San Francisco last November, the company's vehicles have become an increasingly regular sight on the city's streets. As of now, Zoox has said that they are cooperating with local authorities to provide an accurate account of this latest incident. Durden's current condition after the event has not been made public, as attempts to reach him for comment have been unsuccessful. The San Francisco police could not find any record of their officers responding to the traffic situation.
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