We are sorry. Here is what we are doing about it.
On Monday, October 26, three Momentum semi-autonomous trucks crashed in San Antonio, Pittsburgh, and Columbus. Our driver Ashley Williams lost her life. Children on a school bus in Pittsburgh and drivers on a Columbus freeway were seriously hurt.
These were our trucks, and that makes it our responsibility. This page is where we will tell you, plainly and regularly, what we know, what we are doing, and how to get help.
Ashley Williams
Ashley was a Momentum driver who followed every safety protocol and did everything right. She will always be part of the Momentum family. With her family's blessing, we will gather to honor her life.
Where things stand
We will update this section as soon as anything changes. Nothing here will be described as confirmed until independent experts have verified it.
Autonomous fleet
Every autonomous Momentum truck is off the road nationwide, and none will return until all restart requirements below are met.
Human-driven trucks
Returning route by route, each only after a safety inspection and confirmation from Globex that it does not run the affected software.
Investigation
Early findings point to a software malfunction. Mandiant, an independent cybersecurity firm, is verifying, alongside the NTSB, NHTSA, and FBI.
Medical deliveries
Pharmaceutical and other time-sensitive medical shipments get first priority on every available truck.
What we have done so far
Every action we have taken since the crashes, in order. Times are Eastern.
Three crashes involving Momentum semi-autonomous trucks in San Antonio, Pittsburgh, and Columbus.
All operations suspended while we worked to understand what happened.
Personal letters from our CEO to Ashley Williams' family, the families and school in Pittsburgh, and the people hurt in Columbus, and direct outreach to our customers.
Public apology from our CEO, taking full responsibility.
Independent investigation launched. Mandiant hired; all vehicle data, software records, and communications preserved; full cooperation with the NTSB, NHTSA, and FBI. Board of Directors briefed.
Support for our employees, including free counseling.
Strict restart requirements adopted: no autonomous truck returns without independent verification and sign-off.
Customer continuity plan for Amazon, Walmart, and Bayer, with medical shipments first and no added cost to customers. Letter to shareholders. Letter to Congress and the Department of Transportation supporting a full review of autonomous trucking rules and offering our data and testimony.
Follow-up support for Pittsburgh and Columbus: medical bills paid directly, a dedicated contact for every family, counseling at the school, and coverage of vehicle repairs and lost wages.
Video statement from our CEO.
Technical clearance protocol from Globex: every truck is checked before it can return.
Recovery budget set aside for the first 30 days, including victim and family support.
Anonymous driver safety hotline launched, with a no-retaliation guarantee. Paid leave and a dedicated contact for our injured Columbus driver's family.
Memorial service and the Ashley Williams Memorial Fund announced.
Help for everyone affected
If you were affected in any way, you will not have to chase us. Here is what we are doing for you, and how to reach a real person.
Families and people who were hurt
- Momentum pays all medical, funeral, and family costs directly. You will not receive a bill.
- Every family has one dedicated Momentum contact, day or night.
- For the Columbus crash: vehicle repairs or replacement, rental cars, and lost wages are covered.
- Free counseling for as long as you need it.
- You will hear what the investigation finds before it is shared publicly.
Pittsburgh students, parents, and school staff
- Licensed counselors at the school for students, teachers, and staff, for as long as needed.
- Safe alternative transportation for any family uncomfortable with the bus.
- Help with hospital logistics, meals, and transportation for families of children still in the hospital.
Momentum drivers and employees
- Anonymous safety hotline: if a truck does anything unusual (honking, braking, turn signals, anything), report it. No one will face retaliation for raising a safety concern.
- Free grief counseling for everyone, especially Ashley's coworkers.
- Any decision that affects your job will be shared with you first, directly, never through the news.
Customers and partners
- Human-driven trucks return route by route after inspection; vetted outside carriers cover the rest.
- Medical shipments first, on every available truck.
- A named account lead and a daily shipment update for every partner, overseen by our COO.
- Any extra costs from rerouting are on Momentum.
Straight answers
If your question is not here, call any of the numbers on this page and a person will answer.
Is it safe to share the road with Momentum trucks today?
No autonomous Momentum truck is operating anywhere. Our human-driven trucks are returning only after each one passes a safety inspection and Globex confirms it does not run the affected software.
What caused the crashes?
Early findings point to a software malfunction. We are not treating that as final until Mandiant, an independent cybersecurity firm, has verified it, including whether any outside interference was involved. The NTSB, NHTSA, and FBI are also investigating. We will publish verified findings here.
When will the autonomous trucks come back?
Not until all seven requirements in the status section are met, including independent verification and written sign-off. Even then, they will return slowly, in a small pilot, with a trained driver in every truck.
Who pays for medical bills and other costs?
Momentum does, directly. Families will not receive bills or have to wait for reimbursement. Call the family support line and your dedicated contact will handle it.
Will my deliveries be affected?
Some may be slower while our autonomous fleet is suspended. We are bringing back human-driven trucks route by route and adding outside carriers, with medical shipments first.
What is Momentum doing about autonomous trucking rules?
We support the review of the law that allowed semi-autonomous trucks on our highways. We have offered lawmakers and regulators our crash data, software logs, and testimony, and we are urging stronger industry-wide standards for reporting software problems, independent safety audits, and cybersecurity.
How can I honor Ashley Williams?
Join the memorial service on Friday, October 30 at 2:00 PM ET, in person in Etna or by livestream, or contribute to the Ashley Williams Memorial Fund for her family.
CEO video statement
The text of Sam Bennet's video statement, released October 27.
I'm Sam Bennet, CEO of Momentum.
Yesterday, three of our semi-autonomous trucks crashed: in San Antonio, in Pittsburgh, and here in Columbus.
Ashley Williams, one of our drivers, lost her life. She did everything right. Children on a school bus in Pittsburgh were badly hurt, and so were drivers on a Columbus freeway.
To Ashley's family, to those children and their parents, and to everyone hurt: I am so sorry. These were our trucks, and that makes it our responsibility.
I want to give you an update on where things stand.
First, our trucks. If you share the highway with us, know this: every autonomous Momentum truck is off the road today. They will not come back until we have found and fixed the cause, tested every vehicle, and had independent experts confirm they are safe. When they do return, it will be slowly, with a trained driver in every truck.
Second, the investigation. Globex, our technology division, and Mandiant, an independent cybersecurity firm, are investigating all three crashes. Early findings point to a software malfunction, and we are having that independently confirmed. We are cooperating fully with the NTSB, NHTSA, and the FBI. When we know, you will know.
Third, the people affected. We are paying all medical, funeral, and family costs. Every family has a Momentum contact they can call, and counseling is available to the families, the students, and our own employees.
Many businesses and families count on Momentum deliveries every day, including for medicine. Our traditional, human-driven trucks are being safety-checked now so we can keep critical deliveries moving, starting with medical shipments.
To the Momentum team, and especially our drivers: you are not alone in this, and we will get through it together.
Safety is the first thing Momentum stands for, and yesterday we failed it. We will earn your trust back through what we do, and I will keep you updated.
Thank you.
Reach a real person
Every line below is answered by a person, around the clock.