Motorcyclist dies in crash involving Waymo self-driving car in Tempe
A motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle near Arizona State University's Tempe campus on September 14, 2025. According to Waymo, the self-driving car was struck from behind while yielding to a pedestrian, and a third vehicle then struck the motorcyclist and fled the scene.
What happened
On September 14, 2025, near Lemon Street and Rural Road close to Arizona State University's Tempe campus, a Waymo self-driving vehicle was struck from behind by a motorcyclist while the Waymo was yielding to a pedestrian and preparing to make a right turn.
Less than a second after the motorcycle hit the Waymo, a separate passenger vehicle struck the motorcyclist and fled the scene. The motorcyclist, identified as Joseph Gonzalez, 18, was taken to hospital and pronounced dead. The manner of death was determined to be an accident, with blunt force trauma to the head as the primary cause.
Reported impact
A motorcyclist was killed in the multi-vehicle collision. Waymo stated that no passengers were in the self-driving vehicle at the time of the collision.
Governance controls
Waymo stated: 'Safety is our highest priority at Waymo. We are deeply saddened by this event and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement and regulators.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.