A pregnant woman's ride to a San Francisco hospital in a Waymo this week took an unexpected turn when she gave birth in the robotaxi, according to the company.
Waymo’s remote rider support team detected “unusual activity” during the ride Monday night and initiated a call to check on the woman and contacted 911, the self-driving car company said.
The woman gave birth in the back seat and safely arrived at the hospital before emergency services reached her, Waymo said.
University of California San Francisco Hospital spokesperson Jess Berthold confirmed the mother and baby arrived at the hospital Monday night, noting the mother was not available for interviews.
The car has been removed from service for cleaning, Waymo said.
"We’re proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young," a Waymo spokesperson said. "We wish the new family all the best, and we look forward to safely getting them where they’re going through many of life’s events."
In a lighthearted blog post Wednesday, Waymo said: "Earlier this week in San Francisco, a mother in labor hailed a Waymo to the hospital and ended up with an extra surprise: her baby delivered in the backseat. Some people just can’t wait for their first Waymo ride."
The electric self-driving taxis have made headlines as service has expanded.
Earlier this month, a Waymo vehicle drove right in front of large police felony stop in downtown Los Angeles. In September, a Waymo vehicle made an illegal turn in front of police conducting a DUI operation in San Bruno, California. Officers stopped the vehicle but found no one behind the wheel.
Last December, a man named Mike Johns recorded footage of his Waymo car driving in nonstop circles as he was trying to get to the airport in Scottsdale, Arizona.
