Witherite Law Group Raises Concerns About Autonomous Vehicle Interference in Emergency Response Situations
Waymo Taxi Blocks Access to 5 Alarm Fire in Dallas
Amy Witherite, founding attorney of Witherite Law Group and a longtime advocate for roadway safety, is calling attention to newly released body camera footage showing a Dallas County deputy constable forced to manually move a driverless Waymo vehicle that was blocking an emergency route as fire trucks raced to a deadly gas explosion. The footage also shows a Waymo remote dispatcher requesting the officer’s name, badge number, and agency before taking action to clear the vehicle from the roadway.
The May 28, 2025, explosion at The Clyde apartment complex in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood killed three people and injured five others, drawing more than 100 firefighters. Dallas County Precinct 5 Deputy Constable Jonathan Banda encountered an empty Waymo vehicle stopped sideways in the roadway as engine companies approached with hoses. According to KERA News, Banda was seen reaching into the car to grab the steering wheel before the vehicle connected to remote support. Once connected, Banda told the dispatcher: “You need to move this car ASAP, please there’s a fire around the corner.” Rather than immediately clearing the vehicle, the Waymo remote team demanded identifying information before ultimately unlocking the car and allowing Banda to drive it out of the way himself.
