KRON – Waymo pledges donation after beloved San Francisco corner store cat struck, killed
Editors note: No Problem! Alphabet/Google/Waymo will just kick in a few bucks to an unrelated cause to make up for their vehicles causing another death.
See original article by Stephanie Rothman, Tor Smith at KRON
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Waymo said it plans to make a donation to a local animal rights organization after a beloved corner store cat in San Francisco’s Mission District was struck and killed by one of its driverless cars Monday night.
According to residents, “KitKat” was the neighborhood mascot who brightened customers’ and residents’ days as they passed by Randa’s Market on 16th Street.
“They would deliver KitKat in a box of KitKats and that’s the box that KitKat chose to sleep in and got his name. (It) caught on very well,” said neighbor Sarah Koohnz.
According to a 311 complaint, a Waymo hit the liquor store’s cat that was sitting on the sidewalk next to the transit lane. The complaint says, “the Waymo didn’t even try to stop and hit the cat at a fast speed. The cat has been picked up by neighbors and taken to the emergency vet with hopes of rescue. Unfortunately, KitKat did not survive.”
“The trust and the safety of the communities we serve is our highest priority,” said a Waymo spokesperson in a statement to KRON4 Thursday evening. “We reviewed this, and while our vehicle was stopped to pick up passengers, a nearby cat darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away. We send our deepest sympathies to the cat’s owner and the community who knew and loved him, and we will be making a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor.”
Community members in San Francisco’s Mission District held a vigil Wednesday that was filled with flowers, candles, and pictures of the popular pet. Many are calling for more safety measures to be put in place. The owner was too distraught to talk on camera.
“I just find it disgusting that Waymo has an action in this,” added Koohnz. “I’ve known multiple people that have been hit by those vehicles, myself included, and I just find it disgusting that that’s the way KitKat went.”
“While I’ve been making space for people to keep bringing offerings, I’ve just gotten stories upon stories about how it was their cat,” said resident Margarita Lara, who works next door. “Two different kids of different ages said they grew up with this cat and they cried. One of them brought her big brother.”
Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said during an interview at a TechCrunch Disrupt event in San Francisco that robotaxis are safer than human drivers.
When asked about potential fatalities by robots, she said she thinks society will accept it — and that the company worries not about whether it will happen, but when, and they plan for them.
This comes as Uber announces that the San Francisco Bay Area will be the first market for its specially built autonomous taxi, which is expected to launch in late 2026. But those grieving in the Mission would prefer robotaxis break operations.
“The coolest cat in the world,” added Lara. “One of a kind, the Mayor of 16th Street, and we’re never going to have another pet like this. Loved by all.”
See original article by Stephanie Rothman, Tor Smith at KRON
