Severe storms that swept across metro Phoenix on Friday forced Waymo to temporarily suspend its driverless ride-hailing service after one of its vehicles became stuck in floodwaters.
App users trying to book a ride were met with the message: “Our service is currently paused.”
The pause came after a Waymo vehicle was stranded in deep water near 16th Street and Glendale Avenue.
The disruption followed a series of thunderstorm and flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service, which said storm activity intensified throughout the afternoon. The Phoenix Fire Department reported multiple water rescues as streets quickly filled with runoff.
Friday’s flooding also snarled traffic, submerged vehicles, and prompted dust storms in other parts of the Valley, including Chandler and Peoria.
Waymo has not provided an estimate for when rides will resume in the Phoenix area.
