Waymo Stumbles Into Hotspot: A Curious Collision

The incident happened on Feb. 7 in the Morningside area of Atlanta, when a Waymo autonomous vehicle entered an active police scene on Cheshire Bridge Road. Police and SWAT teams were already engaged with a barricaded gunman who had just fired shots, wounding two officers. The Waymo cut through a line of emergency vehicles and stopped right in the middle of the crime scene, doors open and a passenger inside. A local reporter captured the moment on camera, showing the car parked among police cars and crime‑scene tape. The footage prompted a question: how could an autonomous car navigate into such a dangerous area? The company has not yet responded to inquiries.The shooting, which led to the arrest of 24‑year‑old Alonte Ray on multiple assault and weapons charges, had already seen SWAT neutralize the suspect without further injuries. Yet the Waymo’s presence added a confusing layer to an already chaotic event. Waymo has faced other safety hiccups in Atlanta, such as repeatedly passing school buses that were stopped and flashing. Despite a software update intended to improve bus‑interaction safety, incidents have continued in cities like Austin, raising concerns for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.