Phoenix, ArizonaRobotaxis
Robotaxi stuck on a flooded Phoenix street holds up traffic
A witness said the driverless car rocked back and forth for more than 10 minutes, at one point nearly backing into another car, as other drivers went around it.
PHOENIX — A driverless Waymo vehicle got stuck on a flooded street in Phoenix in September, unable to get past the water for more than 10 minutes, according to a witness who filmed it. The video shows the car repeatedly inching forward and then backing up, and at one point it nearly backed into another car while drivers steered around it.
The witness, Roger Pelkey, said two Waymo vehicles were holding up traffic. The one farther ahead eventually made it through, while the other stayed stuck in what the witness called an "AI loop." Fox Business said it had asked Waymo for comment.
Floodwater has caused trouble for the service before. In May, Waymo suspended driverless rides in several cities, including Atlanta, San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas, after repeated incidents in which vehicles drove into submerged streets and some were stranded.
At a glance
- Where
- A flooded street in Phoenix, Arizona
- When
- September 2026
- What
- A driverless robotaxi stuck for more than 10 minutes in floodwater, a witness said
- Operator
- Waymo
- Traffic
- Two robotaxis held up traffic, the witness said; one made it through
- Close call
- The stuck car nearly backed into another car
Original headline: “Video shows Waymo driverless vehicle stuck in 'AI loop' on flooded Phoenix street”
Read the full story on Fox BusinessAlso reported by CNN. Summary written by sonr from published news reports. sonr was not involved in this incident and isn't affiliated with the companies or news outlets named.