According to the Austin American-Statesman, the incident occurred over Labor Day weekend on Brackenridge Street near East Monroe Street, just east of South Congress Avenue. The vehicle’s operators and corporate representatives faced immediate scrutiny from witnesses and the animal’s owners over how the situation was handled after the impact.
### Witnesses Describe the Collision and Aftermath
The cat’s owners, Anton Caputo and his family, were not home at the time of the collision. However, neighbors William Lehner and Abbey Simpson were driving directly behind the Waymo vehicle when the accident unfolded. According to Lehner, the cat suddenly ran into the road and was struck immediately by the autonomous vehicle. Lehner stated that it was unlikely the vehicle could have stopped in time to avoid the collision. After the impact, the cat screamed and ran into nearby shrubbery. Lehner and Simpson observed the vehicle pull over briefly to let out its two passengers before driving away. “It knew it hit something because it stopped, and then the guys got out, and then the Waymo just drove away,” Lehner told the American-Statesman, adding that the entire interaction lasted less than a minute. Simpson found the animal in the bushes, describing his injuries as horrific, with a broken back and severe trauma to a limb. The neighbors rushed Tommy to an emergency veterinary clinic, where he was ultimately euthanized.
### Family Seeks Accountability and Corporate Response
Anton Caputo stated that he contacted Waymo’s customer support the same day of the incident but did not receive a response until more than a week later, only hours after the American-Statesman reached out to the company for comment. Waymo spokesman Chris Bonelli issued a statement regarding the incident. “Our mission for trust and safety extends to all road users, including the domestic pets and wildlife in our communities. We are in touch with the cat’s owners and have shared our sincere condolences,” Bonelli said. Bonelli confirmed to the American-Statesman that the Waymo vehicle braked but could not avoid the collision, corroborating the account provided by witness William Lehner. However, residents argue that the company’s actions following the crash fell short of reasonable standards. “I feel like a representative should have to come out,” Simpson told the American-Statesman. “People are going to hit animals, but there is just a different level of accountability.”
Caputo echoed those concerns regarding corporate responsibility. “If a person did it, we wouldn’t think that the acceptable reaction to hitting an animal is to drive on,” Caputo said. “So I don’t know why it should be for a corporate robot car.”
### Calls for Compensation and Animal Rescue Donations
The Caputo family and their neighbors are pressing the company for tangible actions following Tommy’s death. Caputo noted that his daughter found Tommy as a kitten in an H-E-B bag in a church parking lot, and the family raised him alongside their dog. Lehner stated that Waymo should pay for the family’s $1,000 veterinary bill. “Waymo should absolutely be accountable for that. That’s just the right thing to do,” Lehner said. “Waymo is a well-funded company that should have more than enough reserves on hand to pay for these types of things.”
Additionally, Caputo requested that Waymo—which is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc.—make a donation to an animal rescue in Tommy’s name, noting the company has taken similar actions in past incidents. Bonelli stated that Waymo is currently working through an insurance claim with the Caputo family.
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