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- How the trunk discovery played out and why the clip went viral
- Waymo’s response, customer follow-up, and law enforcement action
- Public reaction: safety worries, speculation, and unanswered questions
- Context: other recent incidents shaping public opinion about robotaxis
- Key safety questions authorities and riders are asking
A Los Angeles woman opened a booked Waymo to find a stranger crammed inside the vehicle’s trunk. Her reaction and the man’s panicked claims — captured on TikTok and watched millions of times — have pushed fresh questions about robotaxi safety into the spotlight.
How the trunk discovery played out and why the clip went viral
What viewers saw
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- The TikToker recorded herself confronting the man found in the trunk of a Waymo ordered for her child.
- The man repeatedly told her he could not get out and said vaguely that “the people” had put him there.
- The original clip quickly accumulated millions of views after it was posted as the account’s first video.
Quick timeline of the incident
- Rider requests a Waymo for a child.
- The arriving vehicle is opened and the passenger discovers a man in the trunk.
- An exchange is filmed and shared on social media; follow-up videos show police on the scene.
Waymo’s response, customer follow-up, and law enforcement action
Company statement and customer care
Waymo told local media the man entered the trunk after a previous rider left it open. In a written response, the company said it reached out to the customer and offered to cover the fare.
Waymo emphasized a commitment to rider safety and called the episode unacceptable, while saying it is implementing changes to prevent similar events.
Police involvement and proof the video was real
In a follow-up social post, the TikToker showed officers detaining the man. The additional footage was shared to counter claims the original recording was staged.
Public reaction: safety worries, speculation, and unanswered questions
Immediate concerns from viewers
- Many users asked how sensors and cameras failed to flag a person hiding in or entering the trunk.
- Others worried that someone could exploit autonomous vehicles to ambush riders.
- Parents and caregivers expressed reluctance to leave children alone with a robotaxi after the video.
Popular social media takeaways
- Viewers called the man “waiting for a victim,” citing behavior shown on camera.
- Critics pointed to Waymo’s fleet management and asked why no safeguards prevented the incident.
- Questions about where and how the man boarded the vehicle remain open.
Context: other recent incidents shaping public opinion about robotaxis
This episode arrives amid a string of negative headlines about autonomous vehicles. Footage circulated recently of Waymo cars clustered in a street after a collision. There have also been reports of cars striking pets.
Why past events matter now
Each new story adds to a growing public narrative about the risks of driverless fleets. Riders and regulators are increasingly focused on how these systems detect unexpected behavior and protect passengers.
Key safety questions authorities and riders are asking
- How do onboard cameras and sensors monitor all vehicle compartments?
- What protocols trigger when an unexpected person is detected?
- How will companies verify and document that an area was secure before a ride?
- What training do remote operators or support teams have for intrusions or suspicious activity?
For now, the incident has prompted fresh scrutiny of automated ride services and their ability to keep riders safe in real-world situations.
