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Motorcyclist killed in Tempe crash involving Waymo robotaxi and hit-and-run driver near ASU campus

[FATALITY]

Sep 14, 2025 · Waymo · Waymo Driver (6th gen) · Sacramento, California, USA

All Incidents

Failure Mode

FATALITY

Event Date

Sep 14, 2025

Primary Entity

Waymo

Robotic Platform

Waymo Driver (6th gen)

Jurisdiction / Location

Sacramento, California, USA

Audit Standard

Physical State Verified

Incident Abstract & Audit Findings

On September 14, 2025, at approximately 1:30 AM, a motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle crash near Lemon Street and Rural Road in Tempe, Arizona, near the ASU campus. An unoccupied Waymo robotaxi was making a right turn and yielding to pedestrians when the motorcyclist rear-ended the self-driving car.

System & Fleet Architecture

Operating Manufacturer

WaymoView Manufacturer

Hardware Platform

Waymo Driver (6th gen)

Operational Sectors

Physical AI / Robotics

Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings

  • https://www.azfamily.com/2025/09/14/1-person-killed-multi-car-crash-near-asu-tempe-campus/

    https://www.azfamily.com/2025/09/14/1-person-killed-multi-car-crash-near-asu-tempe-campus/

  • https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/motorcyclist-killed-in-tempe-crash-involving-a-waymo/75-72c3e6d9-a5a0-4c31-a4c8-91ec285685d2

    https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/motorcyclist-killed-in-tempe-crash-involving-a-waymo/75-72c3e6d9-a5a0-4c31-a4c8-91ec285685d2

  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2025/09/14/waymo-involved-apparently-not-at-fault-in--motorcycle-fatality/

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2025/09/14/waymo-involved-apparently-not-at-fault-in--motorcycle-fatality/

Related Incidents & Failure Precedents

6 records on file

Incident Context & FAQ

What happened in Motorcyclist killed in Tempe crash involving Waymo robotaxi and hit-and-run driver near ASU campus?

On September 14, 2025, at approximately 1:30 AM, a motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle crash near Lemon Street and Rural Road in Tempe, Arizona, near the ASU campus. An unoccupied Waymo robotaxi was making a right turn and yielding to pedestrians when the motorcyclist rear-ended the self-driving car. Within a second, a separate vehicle struck the motorcyclist and fled the scene; police later tracked down the hit-and-run driver, an ASU student. The motorcyclist was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. Waymo stated it was fully cooperating with law enforcement and regulators. This is the third known fatal incident involving a robocar, occurring approximately 2 miles from the 2018 Uber ATG fatality site.

When did this incident occur?

The incident is recorded as occurring on September 14, 2025 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.

What robot was involved in Motorcyclist killed in Tempe crash involving Waymo robotaxi and hit-and-run driver near ASU campus?

Waymo Driver (6th gen) by Waymo is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Sacramento, California, USA.

Has anyone responded to Motorcyclist killed in Tempe crash involving Waymo robotaxi and hit-and-run driver near ASU campus?

No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.

What is the current status of Motorcyclist killed in Tempe crash involving Waymo robotaxi and hit-and-run driver near ASU campus?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.