San Diego Waymo Refuses to Cross Flooded Street, So Police Take the Wheel

A driverless Waymo stopped on a flooded street in San Diego, leaving its passenger with an unusual problem. The car would not continue through the water, and there was no driver behind the wheel to make another choice.

The trouble unfolded during a week of unusually high tides in late October 2026. Water had covered parts of the city's waterfront roads, but other vehicles were still making their way through.

From a nearby hotel, guests watched as the Waymo tried to deal with the flooded street. The scene soon became entertainment for people gathered at the windows, with one woman watching the car's struggle in disbelief.

Eventually, a police officer arrived to help. Instead of waiting for the Waymo to figure out what to do next, the officer climbed into the vehicle and took over the driving.

Hotel guest Megan Schmidt recorded the video and Storyful distributed it on October 29. It shows several Waymo vehicles having trouble with the water.