Observing a Waymo Vehicle Passing Through a Live Crime Scene with LAPD Officers Armed

Waymo currently dominates the autonomous rideshare sector, offering fully driverless services in five U.S. cities and conducting extensive testing in several others. However, the technology isnt flawless, as shown by a recent event involving the Los Angeles Police Department, a suspect in a car chase, and a self-driving Jaguar I-Pace.

A video shared on Instagram by creator Alex Choi captures a Waymo vehicle making a left turn near Broadway and First Street in downtown Los Angeles while LAPD officers have a suspect at gunpoint. The suspect is lying face down on the ground with hands restrained behind his back. The Jaguar passes slowly by as officers direct it to continue through the scene.

The exact distance between the vehicle and the suspect is unclear, but footage suggests the car passed extremely close. An LAPD officer is heard shouting, "Go to your left! Go to your left! Go through."

The incident occurred around 3:40 a.m. on Sunday, November 30. LAPD officials stated to NBC News that the autonomous vehicle did not interfere with the arrest. The department has established protocols for driverless vehicles and maintains ongoing communication with Waymo. According to a company spokesperson, the event lasted under 15 seconds.

"Safety is our top priority at Waymo, for both riders and everyone sharing the roads," the spokesperson told NBC News. "Incidents like this help us improve road safety and operations in complex urban environments."

Waymo, a Google-owned company, has accumulated over 100 million autonomous miles as of July 2025, maintaining a largely clean safety record. Nonetheless, the company has faced unusual situations: earlier this year, pranksters sent 50 Waymo vehicles to one location in San Francisco, causing traffic congestion, and five vehicles were set on fire during anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.

Despite these challenges, Waymo continues to expand, currently testing its autonomous services in cities including Detroit, New York City, and Miami. Incidents like the one in downtown Los Angeles serve as practical learning experiences for the software and sensors guiding these vehicles, likely prompting updates to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Author: Noah Whitman