Zoox robotaxi collides with opening car door in San Francisco
A Zoox robotaxi collided with an opening car door in San Francisco on January 17, 2026, reportedly injuring street ambassador Jamel Durden's hand. The San Francisco Police Department and California Department of Motor Vehicles are investigating the incident.
What happened
A Zoox autonomous vehicle collided with the driver's-side door of a parked 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille at approximately 2 p.m. on January 17, 2026, near the intersection of 15th and Mission Streets in San Francisco. Street ambassador Jamel Durden had opened the car door into the path of the robotaxi, which was carrying a Zoox employee passenger.
Reported impact
Durden's hand was reportedly smashed during the collision. The Zoox vehicle suffered damage to its glass doors. The Zoox employee passenger was not injured.
Index analysis
According to Zoox, the robotaxi identified the opening door and attempted to avoid contact, but collision was unavoidable. Zoox offered medical attention to Durden, who reportedly declined.
Governance controls
The San Francisco Police Department opened an investigation into the crash. The California Department of Motor Vehicles met with Zoox regarding the incident, and Zoox filed a crash report in compliance with California regulations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.