A multi-vehicle collision involving self-driving Waymo cars disrupted traffic on Baseline Road in Tempe, requiring a shutdown that lasted through the morning hours of Sunday. Authorities have been working to piece together the events that led to the accident near Priest Drive that put three people in the hospital. According to a statement obtained by ABC15, the crash was precipitated by a car that failed to observe a red light, thereby striking another vehicle and causing downstream collisions that involved two of Waymo's autonomous vehicles.
The Tempe Police Department, as reported, are actively investigating and has yet to formally delineate all the factors that might to contributed to the incident. The section of Baseline Road affected by the wreck was closed off between Priest Drive and Darrow Drive but has reopened since the early morning hours. Allegations of impairment have been raised, pointing to one of the drivers involved, who was accompanied by a child at the time of the mishap. However, it was not clear at the time if charges were pending against the driver.
Further details emerged from a report by AZfamily identifying the driver who allegedly caused the accident as 20-year-old Soraya Ruiz. The incident occurred when Ruiz, ostensibly driving under the influence, ran through a red light and collided with a northbound vehicle. The impact not only left three people hospital-bound, but it also roped two stationary Waymo vehicles into the fray, both of which were present at the intersection obeying traffic signals.
Waymo released a statement indicating that one of their cars was unoccupied and the other had an onboard passenger, who was fortunate to have emerged without injury, opting to continue their journey in an alternate vehicle. In stark contrast, the driver and passengers from the second car sustained varied injuries, with one considered life-threatening. Ruiz was taken into custody but was later released pending charges which are to include aggravated driving under the influence with a minor in the vehicle, aggravated assault, and underage drinking. The intersection, while it remained closed for a period following the crash, has since been reopened to traffic.
