A two-vehicle collision involving a Waymo self-driving car near downtown Los Angeles early Sunday morning resulted in injuries to multiple people and hospitalized two individuals, according to emergency responders. The crash occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. near the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Toberman Street in the Pico-Union neighborhood.

Initial reports indicated the incident was an auto-pedestrian collision, though details surrounding the cause remain under investigation. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that at least two injured people were transported to local hospitals, while one additional person received treatment at the scene and was subsequently released. The Los Angeles Police Department has not provided an exact count of the victims and stated that their investigation was ongoing as of midday Sunday.

A spokesperson for Waymo said the company’s vehicle was not at fault. According to Waymo, the self-driving car was traveling eastbound on Venice Boulevard at approximately 27 mph when a blue sedan, moving between 47 and 50 mph, struck a pedestrian who was outside of a crosswalk. Following the impact, the sedan reportedly swerved across lanes and collided with the Waymo vehicle. “The safety of our riders and other road users is our top priority,” said company spokesperson Ethan Teicher, who added that Waymo is cooperating with first responders and authorities.

This incident adds to a series of recent accidents involving Waymo vehicles. Earlier this year, a Waymo-operated car in Santa Monica hit a child who ran into the street near an elementary school. The child sustained minor injuries, and the vehicle was reported to be moving at about 6 mph at the time. Waymo cited a peer-reviewed model indicating that a fully attentive human driver in the same scenario would have made contact at a higher speed of approximately 14 mph, underscoring the company’s assertion that its autonomous vehicles enhance safety.

Despite these claims, Waymo has faced criticism in the past. Late last year, a Waymo vehicle struck and killed a neighborhood cat named KitKat in San Francisco. Video footage revealed the cat had lingered beneath the car for several seconds before it moved away, during which a bystander attempted to coax the animal to safety. Critics contended that a human driver would have been more likely to notice the situation and avoid harm.

Waymo’s autonomous fleet has accumulated more than 220 million automated miles and operates in over ten major cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix. Authorities continue to probe the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s collision as discussions about the safety of self-driving vehicles persist.