Delivery robot causes bus collision in Tallinn and leaves the scene

A city bus collided with an autonomous delivery robot at a junction in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, in an unusual road incident that left several people injured. The Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported the case, citing data from the public transport company Tallinn Transport (TLT).

How the collision happened

TLT published a video of the collision on social media. According to the company, the small delivery vehicle did not stop at a red traffic light and drove into the junction. To avoid a crash, the bus driver braked sharply, and several passengers standing inside the bus fell. The transport company says up to nine people were hurt.

The robot was thrown to the other side of the road and later left the scene. TLT management board member Andrei Novikov said: "The robot ran away, if one can put it that way. It simply drove off after the collision."

The manufacturer's response

Pepe Aaviksoo of Starship Technologies, the company that makes the delivery robots, said it had contacted the police and launched an internal investigation to establish the exact circumstances. He said the accident was extremely regrettable and stressed that safety is the company's priority.

About Starship robots

Starship robots can carry up to 15 kilograms over a distance of up to 5 kilometres. In Estonia they travel fully autonomously along pavements, delivering groceries, meals or parcels. The device uses several cameras to observe its surroundings.

The previous recorded collision between a delivery robot and a bus occurred in April 2020.