A bizarre confrontation unfolded in downtown Austin when a group of people approached a Waymo self-driving car, resulting in chaos and police intervention.
The incident was documented by TikTok user Avery Anne (@iamaveryanne), whose video has amassed over 10,000 views in less than a day.
Initially, Avery Anne aimed to showcase the unusual scene of people attempting to board the autonomous vehicle, claiming they were ‘fighting with a driverless vehicle.’
Things took an unexpected turn when a man from the group allegedly grabbed her phone, injuring her finger in the process.
Avery Anne explained that she was in the area for a mic when the confrontation began, and her attempts to assist the group by explaining how Waymo vehicles operate were met with rudeness and resistance.
According to her, “Y’all have seen my Waymo video. I knew that that’s not how this worked and they just had to redo it.”
The group’s initial efforts to enter the Waymo vehicle were met with the unit’s inherent safety mechanisms, which are designed to ensure the safety of pedestrians.
Despite these safety features, this has made such vehicles vulnerable to unpredictable human behavior, as noted by auto engineer Jeff Fong.
In previous protests, Waymos were described as ‘sitting ducks’ due to their lack of responsive measures in confrontational situations.
Avery Anne narrated her attempts to communicate this to the group, stating, “They were like, ‘we’re on the phone with customer support.'”
The situation deteriorated further when a traffic cone was placed in front of the Waymo, blocking a lane in downtown traffic.
Avery Anne remarked on the absurdity of the situation, pointing out the illegal act of obstructing traffic with a cone.
Once the standoff became publicized through her filming, the confrontation escalated dramatically.
After listening to the Waymo honk multiple times over 15 minutes, Avery Anne began documenting the rude behaviors of the group.
The situation turned physical when one of the men approached her and allegedly forcefully took her phone from her hand.
She described, “The man, one of the men, I’m using that in quotation marks, comes and grabs my phone out of my hand.”
Footage from the incident captured the struggle as the man appeared to wrest control of her phone away from her.
In her commentary, she stated, “That man thought it was okay to put his hands on a woman and on my phone.”
Avery Anne confirmed that while her finger was injured during the encounter, it was not broken.
As the chaos unfolded, the Austin police eventually arrived to manage the traffic disruption caused by the standoff.
However, Avery Anne felt that her claims regarding the incident were not taken seriously by the police.
She recounted her interaction with the officers, saying they asked, ‘Who did it?’ When she pointed out the assailant, the officer’s response was, ‘Well, do you need an ambulance?’
She expressed disappointment that the police did not respond adequately to her report of being assaulted.
Community reactions to the incident varied widely on social media.
Many TikTok users voiced their opinions against the group’s behavior and expressed support for Avery Anne’s decision to document the bizarre confrontation.
One commenter noted, “I love when I see people mad at a Waymo,” to which Avery Anne humorously responded, “It was objectively hilarious.”
Users also questioned the motives of the group, with one asking, “What was the purpose for keeping the Waymo captive? Were they trying to make a TikTok or what?”
Avery Anne replied, noting that the group never provided a clear reason for their actions.
The alleged physical altercation drew further comments, with one user saying, “He assaulted you babes,” while another suggested she should have used pepper spray in self-defense.
Local residents shared their perspectives as well, with one Austin local declaring they carried self-defense tools because men often act untouchable in such situations.
Some users also speculated about the growing tensions with more visitors expected in Austin due to the upcoming Austin City Limits Music Festival.
However, not all respondents were sympathetic to Avery Anne’s involvement, with some criticizing her for being overly invested in a situation that did not involve her.
In response, Avery Anne pointed out the irony in their criticism, highlighting the peculiar nature of the incident.
This confrontation underscores broader societal tensions regarding the introduction of autonomous vehicle technology in urban environments.
As Austin continues to serve as a testing ground for self-driving services, interactions between the public and these vehicles remain contentious and unpredictable.
The incident serves as a reminder that even with advanced safety features designed to protect pedestrians, human actions can lead to chaotic and dangerous situations.
Avery Anne’s experience raises awareness about public behavior toward technology and the implications for those who choose to document these encounters.
Motor1 has reached out to Avery Anne via TikTok direct messages and to the Austin Police Department through email for further comments, and updates will follow if either responds.
image source from：motor1
