Waymo Involved in Koreatown Rollover Crash

By Yosi Yahoudai Founder and Managing Partner

May 11, 2026

Car Accidents

A Waymo robotaxi collided with a white sedan in the early morning hours Monday, sending the sedan onto its roof — raising urgent questions about autonomous vehicle liability and occupant safety that remain unanswered. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 11, 2026) — A Waymo robotaxi and a white sedan were involved in a rollover crash in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles early Monday morning. The crash was reported around 3:10 a.m. near the intersection of James M. Wood Boulevard and Irolo Street. 

Video obtained from the scene showed the Waymo vehicle stopped near the intersection next to a white sedan that was upside down, with damage to the hood, roof and windshield. The Waymo vehicle also appeared to have sustained damage to the rear. 

According to witness reports, the white sedan may have been driving recklessly prior to the collision — a detail that was not confirmed by law enforcement.

Injuries and Occupants

No injuries were reported. However, the injury status of all parties — including any passengers who may have been aboard the Waymo — remains a critical open question. It was not immediately known whether the Waymo had anyone inside at the time. Video from the scene showed a police officer leaning inside the Waymo’s window, though he may have been speaking with Waymo’s remote tech support rather than attending to a passenger.

The cause of the crash is unknown. No arrests were reported and no official determination of fault had been made as of the time of publication. 

Legal Significance

The incident carries particular significance from a personal injury standpoint. Crashes involving autonomous vehicles create a complex, multi-party liability landscape that may implicate Waymo’s parent company Alphabet, the operator of the other vehicle, and potentially vehicle manufacturers. California law requires autonomous vehicle operators to report all collisions to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and those reports are public record — a key evidentiary resource for injured parties.

Even if no injuries are confirmed, any occupant of either vehicle who later manifests symptoms — as is common with soft tissue and traumatic brain injuries — may have actionable claims. The existence of onboard sensor data, video footage, and Waymo’s remote monitoring logs makes this category of crash uniquely evidence-rich compared to conventional vehicle accidents.

What Remains Unknown

The following material facts had not been established as of publication: whether the Waymo was carrying a passenger; the identities and conditions of all parties involved; whether law enforcement has obtained Waymo’s data logs; the operational status of the Waymo’s autonomous systems at the time of impact; and whether any citations were issued.

The investigation is ongoing. Waymo had not issued a public statement as of the time of this report.