Motorcyclist Killed in Tempe Crash Involving Waymo, Hit-and-Run Driver

A fatal crash in Tempe, Arizona involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle, a motorcycle, and another human-driven car resulted in the death of the motorcyclist. The incident occurred near Rural Road and Apache Boulevard around 1:20 a.m. when the Waymo, traveling at a low speed to make a right turn, was hit from behind by the motorcyclist, who failed to slow down. Subsequently, the motorcyclist was struck by another car that then fled the scene, with Waymo providing the fleeing vehicle's license plate to law enforcement. Waymo confirmed no passengers were in their vehicle and emphasized their ongoing cooperation with authorities, expressing sadness over the tragedy. The investigation is ongoing, with police continuing to gather details about the crash and the hit-and-run driver. This marks a significant event given the location's history with autonomous vehicle-related incidents.