The death of a neighborhood cat named Kit Kat in a collision with a Waymo robotaxi has ignited outrage in San Francisco, leaving the residents ‘shaken’ while also transforming a tragedy into a debate over autonomous vehicles. According to a report by The New York Times, Kit Kat, affectionately known by locals as the “Mayor of 16th Street” for his frequent visits to various spots, was run over by a self-driving taxi shortly before midnight on October 27. The incident has led residents to create a memorial shrine at the site of the accident. The reaction has created headaches for Waymo, Google’s self-driving car service, which is already under intense public scrutiny in the city.

Waymo ‘kills’ cat: People call for accountability

The incident immediately became a central point in the political push to increase local control over autonomous vehicles.San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who represents the Mission District, has been the most vocal critic, the report said. She introduced a city resolution that calls on the state Legislature to allow local voters to decide whether driverless cars can operate in their neighborhoods—a jurisdiction currently controlled by the state.“A human driver can be held accountable, can hop out, say sorry, can be tracked down by police if it’s a hit-and-run,” Fielder told The New York Times. “Here, there is no one to hold accountable,” she added.

What the Google-owned Waymo has to say

Waymo described the incident as one where a cat “darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away.” The company, whose co-CEO recently stressed the importance of safety, released a statement expressing sympathy.“We send our deepest sympathies to the cat’s owner and the community who knew and loved him,” the company said.The area is reportedly decorated with competing signs, with some criticising Waymo while others acknowledge the hundreds of animals killed annually by human drivers in the city.