TEMPE, Ariz. - The Tempe Police Department says a woman is dead after being hit by a Uber self-driving vehicle Sunday night. The woman is believed to be the first pedestrian killed by a self-driving vehicle in the U.S.
According to police, 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg attempted to cross Mill Avenue just south of Curry Road when she was struck. Police said she was not in a crosswalk.
Herzberg was taken to a hospital where she later died.
Police said the Uber vehicle was in autonomous mode with a vehicle operator in the front seat. The company confirmed this, adding there were no passengers in the back seat.
Police said Uber is assisting in the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board is also sending a team to investigate the crash.
In a statement, Tempe mayor Mark Mitchell said the crash was "tragic" and the community grieves for Herzberg.
Uber said it paused its self-driving operations across North America in the wake of the crash. Mitchell said he supported the decision.
"Our hearts go out to the victim’s family," Uber said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation of this incident."
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tweeted Monday that the company was "thinking of the victim's family."
Nearly a year ago, an Uber self-driving vehicle was involved in a different crash in Tempe when an Uber rolled onto its side. Nobody was injured in that crash, according to Tempe PD.
