infoFormer Waymo Operator Arrested, Charged With Causing Self-Driving Van to Crash

Former Waymo Operator Arrested, Charged With Causing Self-Driving Van to Crash

On Jan. 30 Raymond Tang was spotted harassing two Waymo vans on a wide stretch of highway in Tempe, Arizona. Tang began to swerve his vehicles in and out of his lane before abruptly cutting into the Waymo van's path and slamming on his brakes.

Both Waymo vans being harassed by Tang were controlled manually during the time of the accident, meaning that neither vehicle was operating under any form of autonomy.

One van was able to avoid the crash, however, the lead vehicle (Video at link below) was unable to stop in time and rear-ended Tang's car, resulting in more than $3,500 in damages to Waymo's semi-autonomous automobile. The safety driver involved in the collision taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash, as well as asthma-related difficulties.

Waymo indicated that Tang had once worked for Genesis10, a staffing agency previously contracted to staff its vehicle operator positions. Waymo went on to described Tang as a \"disgruntled former Genesis10 vehicle operator whose assignment with Waymo ended nearly a year ago when he failed to meet the high safety standards.\" This allegedly isn't the first time Tang was spotted harassing the semi-autonomous vehicles either.

When interviewed by police about the collision, Tang eventually admitted to \"brake-checking the Waymo\" and, after investigators reviewed video footage of the accident, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault, endangerment, criminal damage, and reckless driving.