Buzz
As automation and robotics continue to evolve, a troubling new issue emerges: robots killing humans. Since robots lack independent thought, they simply execute their programming, often resulting in dangerous outcomes. These incidents typically occur when humans inadvertently find themselves in the robot's path, treated like the objects the robot was designed to handle.
This is why many robot-related accidents and fatalities take place in factories, where robots work in close proximity to humans. Unfortunately, the human body, made of fragile flesh, stands little chance against the immense force of metal and machinery.
10. Joshua Brown
Joshua Brown became the first individual to die in a self-driving car accident. On May 7, 2016, while driving his Tesla Model S through Williston, Florida, the car failed to recognize the difference between an 18-wheeler truck and the bright sky. As the Tesla passed under the trailer, it reappeared on the other side, its roof ripped off. The vehicle then veered off the road, crashing through two fences and a pole.
Tesla attempted to absolve itself of responsibility, noting that the Model S had driven 130 million miles without incident, surpassing the industry’s average of 94 million miles. They also stated that the autopilot system was not infallible and required drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. Brown had his hands on the wheel for just 25 seconds during the 37-minute drive.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that neither Brown nor the autopilot engaged the vehicle’s brakes. The airbags only deployed after the vehicle left the road and struck trees. It is believed that Brown’s death occurred when the car went under the trailer.
Frank Baressi, the truck driver, claimed that Brown was watching a Harry Potter movie during the accident. The NTSB investigation confirmed that a micro SD card containing a Harry Potter film was found at the crash site, though they could not determine if Brown had been watching it on the Asus laptop or Chromebook discovered in the vehicle.
9. Robert Williams
Robert Williams holds the tragic distinction of being the first person ever killed by a robot. The incident took place at a Ford factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, on January 25, 1979. Williams was struck by a robot’s arm while climbing a shelf to retrieve some casts.
Ironically, the robot was intended to retrieve the casts itself, but it repeatedly provided incorrect information about the number of casts remaining on the shelf, which led Williams to climb up. A jury concluded that Williams’s death was due to inadequate safety measures, including a system that should have prompted the robot to make warning noises around humans. Williams’s family was awarded $10 million.
8. Nine South African Soldiers
In 2007, nine South African soldiers lost their lives, and 14 others were injured when an anti-aircraft weapon began firing on its own. The weapon, an Oerlikon GDF-005, was controlled by a system designed to automatically locate, target, and engage hostile forces. It could even reload itself, which could have made the situation even worse.
While training at the Army’s Combat Training Center in Lohatlha, Northern Cape, South African troops encountered a catastrophic malfunction with the weapon. The weapon jammed and exploded, causing it to go haywire. It fired 250 rounds of high-explosive 35-millimeter shells from its dual barrels at the soldiers training nearby.
There are suspicions that the incident may have been caused by a software problem or mechanical failure. Richard Young, an engineer and CEO of a defense company, remarked that such accidents weren’t isolated, as he had witnessed automatic anti-aircraft weapons malfunctioning in similar ways before—though none of those previous incidents resulted in fatalities.
7. Micah Johnson
On July 7, 2016, Micah Johnson carried out a shooting spree in Dallas, killing five police officers and injuring nine others, including two civilians. His first attack occurred around 9:00 PM during a peaceful protest against police violence against African Americans. Three officers and one civilian were also wounded in that initial incident. Johnson then moved to El Centro College, where he shot and killed one officer outside before entering the building to target more officers.
A five-hour standoff followed, with police attempting to negotiate with Johnson, who threatened to detonate bombs. The police presented him with two choices: come outside and surrender, or stay inside and risk the use of force. Johnson chose not to exit the building.
It didn’t take long for Micah Johnson to understand what the police meant by force when they attached a C-4 explosive brick to a robot's arm and sent it into the garage where he was hiding. The ensuing explosion killed Johnson and damaged the robot. This marked the first use of such a tactic by a US police department. Ironically, the robot that carried out the bombing was originally designed to disarm explosives.
Before this event, police had been using robots with smoke and flash grenades to incapacitate or injure suspects. SWAT teams had also trained with robots equipped with explosives, but these were generally intended for dealing with terrorists prepared to fight to the death. Meanwhile, US troops in Iraq had been using bomb-laden robots against insurgents.
6. Kenji Urada
Kenji Urada was fatally struck by a robot at Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Akashi, Japan, where he worked. The accident occurred in July 1981, making Urada the first Japanese man killed by a robot. He was attempting to repair the machine when it pinned him against another device, ultimately leading to his death. Despite efforts to free him, the robot’s grip could not be broken.
The robot in question had been removed from the production line for maintenance and was separated from the other robots in the factory by a wire mesh fence. It was supposed to remain powered down whenever anyone entered the fenced-off area.
Despite never opening the door, Kenji jumped over the fence and began working. His body inadvertently brushed against the machine, which caused it to power up. The machine then came to life and trapped him against another piece of machinery, resulting in his death.
5. Unnamed Man
A tragic incident occurred in 2015 at a Volkswagen plant in Baunatal, Germany, when an unnamed worker was killed by a robot. He was part of a team working to set up the robot when it unexpectedly grabbed him and pinned him against some metal sheets. Despite efforts to save him, the man succumbed to his injuries.
The robot in question was responsible for picking up components and assembling them into car parts. Typically kept within a cage, the man was working inside the cage at the time of the accident. Volkswagen later stated that human error was believed to be the cause of the incident. Another worker who was inside the cage with the victim was unharmed.
4. Wanda Holbrook
In March 2017, 57-year-old Wanda Holbrook tragically lost her life to a robot at the Ventra Ionia Mains plant in Michigan, where she worked as a maintenance specialist. The circumstances surrounding her death are particularly unsettling.
The plant, known for manufacturing car parts, is divided into sections with robots meant to stay within their designated areas. However, one robot crossed into the section where Wanda was working, grabbed a trailer part, and dropped it on her skull, resulting in her instantaneous death.
The robot had been attempting to load the trailer part onto a fixture that already contained another part, an action that should have been impossible since a fixture can only hold one part at a time. In the aftermath, Wanda’s husband, William, filed charges against five companies responsible for the robot's production.
3. Regina Elsea
In June 2016, Regina Elsea tragically lost her life just two weeks before her wedding. She was 20 years old. The incident occurred at Ajin USA, a South Korean-owned facility in Cusseta, Alabama, where parts for Hyundai and Kia vehicles were manufactured.
On the day of the accident, Elsea and a few coworkers attempted to repair a malfunctioning robot, despite being prohibited from doing so. With no response to their repeated calls to the maintenance department, they decided to go ahead with the repairs. Unfortunately, their decision proved fatal when the robot unexpectedly powered up and shoved Elsea against another machine, causing severe injuries. Elsea was rushed to East Alabama Medical Center and later flown to UAB Hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries the following morning.
An investigation into the accident found that Ajin USA had violated multiple safety protocols in an effort to boost profits. Just two weeks prior, the company had been fined $2.7 million by the US Labor Department for 27 safety violations. The inquiry further revealed that Ajin USA subjected employees to grueling work schedules—sometimes seven days a week—and even encouraged them to carry out repairs on faulty equipment.
2. Ramji Lal
In 2015, Ramji Lal, a 24-year-old employee at the SKH Metals factory in Manesa, India, tragically lost his life after being stabbed by one of the robots at the facility. The robot was responsible for lifting and welding metal parts. On that fateful day, the robot had lifted a metal sheet, but it was misaligned, prompting Lal to attempt to reposition it. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quick enough, and the robot's arm stabbed him in the abdomen. Reports also suggested that he may have been electrocuted.
Lal did not pass away immediately from the initial injury. He was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries 20 to 30 minutes later. An autopsy showed that his ribs and abdomen had been severely crushed, and the cause of death was determined to be internal bleeding. Despite no signs of electrocution, the police maintained that he had died from an electric shock.
1. Ana Maria Vital
In 2009, Ana Maria Vital, 40, tragically died at the Golden State Foods facility in City of Industry, California. The robot responsible for the accident was a palletizer designed to stack boxes onto pallets.
A box had become stuck in the robot, and Ana Maria entered its cage to remove it. The robot, still in operation, mistook Ana Maria for another box and grabbed her. The machine crushed her torso, and despite the efforts of mechanics to free her, she remained trapped in the robot's grip until her death.
