At least nine bus riders were injured when a wayward delivery robot plowed into oncoming traffic in Estonia.
The incident happened in the capital city Tallinn, in the middle of rush-hour traffic. As Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported, a delivery robot operated by the company Starship Technologies blundered into an intersection during a “no walk” signal, bringing it squarely into the path of an oncoming bus.
Reacting to the obstacle darting out into the road, the bus driver hit the brakes, sending passengers tumbling. The driver’s quick reaction might have actually spared the robot, as the device reportedly continued on its delivery route after colliding with the front of the bus.
“The robot fled, if you can put it that way,” as one Tallinn Transport official told ERR.
As the spokesperson put it, the robot’s actions may legally constitute fleeing the scene of a traffic incident, meaning Starship Technologies could very well be on the hook for the incident.
“If a participant in a traffic accident leaves the scene without fulfilling the obligations prescribed by law, this may constitute an offense,” the transportation official explained.
It wouldn’t the company’s first brush with the law. In Arizona, a 73-year-old woman is suing the company after one of its robots allegedly pushed her to the ground, ramming into her repeatedly as she tried to get up.
As for the Estonian situation, Starship’s head of operation Pepe Aaviksoo blamed bright ad boards and traffic lights, which apparently disoriented the robot’s sensors.
“There are many lessons to be learned, but exceptional situations do occur,” he said.
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