San Francisco Police Department investigating Zoox collision with a parked car

The San Francisco Police Department is investigating an mishap involving a Zoox autonomous conveyance that crashed into the driver’s broadside doorway of a parked car, TechCrunch has learned.

Officers responded to the crash, which occurred astatine astir 2 p.m. section clip connected January 17 adjacent the intersection of 15th and Mission Streets, according to the department. The Zoox robotaxi was traveling on 15th thoroughfare erstwhile a thoroughfare ambassador named Jamel Durden opened the driver’s-side doorway of his 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, according to MissionLocal, which first reported the crash.

Durden’s manus was reportedly smashed during the crash, and the Zoox conveyance suffered harm to its solid doors. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) told TechCrunch the Zoox conveyance was carrying a rider astatine the time, which has not been antecedently reported. That rider was an worker of Zoox, according to the company, and was not injured, which the SFPD confirmed.

The constabulary section declined to supply TechCrunch with an incidental study “[d]ue to the information it is inactive an unfastened investigation.” Zoox filed its ain constabulary study astir the incident, the institution told TechCrunch, but said nary further details person been requested. In a connection connected January 20, Zoox said it was “cooperating with section authorities to supply an close relationship of the incident.”

The California Department of Motor Vehicles, which regulates autonomous vehicles successful the state, has besides met with Zoox astir the January 17 crash. The DMV told TechCrunch that Zoox filed a clang study “in compliance with California regulations.” That study is not yet publically available.

Zoox is successful the aboriginal stages of gathering retired its robotaxi work successful San Francisco. In November, the institution started offering free rides to members of the public who are portion of the “Zoox Explorer” early-rider program. The institution is operating a akin programme successful Las Vegas, Nevada.

This rollout has travel with challenges. The Amazon-owned institution issued a callback successful December to hole an contented wherever immoderate of its vehicles were crossing halfway lanes and blocking crosswalks. (Zoox besides issued two antithetic bundle updates during recalls earlier successful 2025 earlier it started offering nationalist rides.)

The January clang successful San Francisco happened erstwhile Durden “suddenly opened” the doorway of his car into the way of the robotaxi, according to Zoox. The institution said the robotaxi “identified the opening doorway and tried to debar it but interaction was unavoidable.” (Durden’s leader could not beryllium reached for comment.)

Zoox besides said it offered aesculapian attraction to Durden, who allegedly declined. According to MissionLocal, Durden refused aesculapian attraction until his car was towed.

“Safety and transparency are foundational to Zoox, and we are cooperating with section authorities to supply an close relationship of the incident,” the institution said successful a statement.