Photo: Mario Tama / Getty Images News / Getty Images
A San Francisco tennis coach, Dan Linley, claims a Waymo driverless taxi drove off with his expensive tennis equipment on February 7. Linley, who relies on Waymo taxis to navigate the city, was dropped off at Golden Gate Park when the trunk, containing his gear, failed to open. Despite his attempts to use the Waymo app and customer service to retrieve his belongings, the car drove away with his equipment inside.
Linley, who has been coaching tennis for 30 years, reported that the trunk held a large duffel bag, tennis balls, a teaching cart, ball hoppers, and his personal racket. He has been unable to conduct lessons without his gear, leading to financial losses. Linley has filed a small claims suit against Waymo, seeking $12,500 for the equipment's value and lost income.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, operates a fleet of driverless taxis in California. The company stated it is working to resolve the issue and reunite Linley with his belongings. However, Linley expressed frustration, saying, "They're not forgotten. They were lost, not of my accord." He has advised others to keep their belongings in the back seat to avoid similar issues.
The case highlights the challenges of using autonomous vehicles and the potential for legal disputes when things go wrong. Linley's lawsuit is ongoing, and he continues to await the return of his equipment or compensation from Waymo.