{ "dataset": "robot-fatalities", "description": "Every reviewed, non-retracted fatal incident on the DEPLOY registry involving a robot, autonomous system, or driver-assist system, classified by operational autonomy class. Verified incident counts; complaints and unfiled reports are tracked separately.", "source": "https://registry.deploy.report/how-many-people-have-robots-killed", "license": "CC-BY-4.0 (attribute DEPLOY, link the source page)", "generatedAt": "2026-07-22T05:41:48.946Z", "count": 18, "records": [ { "slug": "osha-jr-wheel-robot-cell-asphyxia-fatality-2001", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-jr-wheel-robot-cell-asphyxia-fatality-2001", "occurred_date": "2001-12-29", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker asphyxiated after robot started up in un-locked-out cell at JR Wheel (2001)", "summary": "On December 29, 2001, an employee at JR Wheel Inc. was cleaning up at the end of his shift and entered a robot cell that was not locked out. When the robot machinery started up, it grabbed his neck and pinned him under a wheel rim, asphyxiating him. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 304487655.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=304487655", "https://web.archive.org/web/20250115130216/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=200101236" ] }, { "slug": "osha-keihin-robotic-lifting-arm-fatality-2003", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-keihin-robotic-lifting-arm-fatality-2003", "occurred_date": "2003-12-13", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Heat-treat operator caught and killed by robotic lifting arm between oven and quench tank at Keihin IPT (2003)", "summary": "On December 13, 2003, a heat-treating equipment operator at Keihin IPT was caught in a robotic lifting arm between an oven and a quenching tank. He received massive injuries to both arms and was killed. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 306865981.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=306865981", "https://web.archive.org/web/20250115130210/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=200991081" ] }, { "slug": "osha-getrag-industrial-robot-fatality-2004", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-getrag-industrial-robot-fatality-2004", "occurred_date": "2004-03-30", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker killed by industrial robot after entering barricaded work cell at Getrag (2004)", "summary": "On March 30, 2004, an employee at Getrag Corporation entered a barricaded robot work cell while the system was in operation. An industrial robot that moved assembled products between a conveyor and testing machines caught him by the head or neck between a fixture on the robotic arm and the testing machine, killing him. Interlocked gates were present, but the worker may have entered by climbing the fence or crawling through product openings. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 307542589.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=307542589", "https://web.archive.org/web/20250115130208/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=202075727" ] }, { "slug": "osha-alliance-tech-robotic-arm-fatality-2006", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-alliance-tech-robotic-arm-fatality-2006", "occurred_date": "2006-07-24", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker crushed between robotic arm and workstation frame at Alliance Tech Systems (2006)", "summary": "On July 24, 2006, an employee at Alliance Tech Systems, a producer of medium-caliber ammunition, was killed when he was crushed between a robotic arm and the frame of one of the robot's workstations, with his head pinned. He appeared to be reaching to remove scrap dropped by the robot or to activate a reset button. Investigators found no malfunction in the robot's movement. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 309473502.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=309473502", "https://web.archive.org/web/20250115130202/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=200631406" ] }, { "slug": "osha-lenco-robotic-arm-fatality-2007", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-lenco-robotic-arm-fatality-2007", "occurred_date": "2007-05-13", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker struck by robotic arm while troubleshooting injection-molding machine, later dies, at Lenco (2007)", "summary": "On May 13, 2007, an employee at Lenco, Inc. (PMC) was troubleshooting a robotic arm used to remove CD jewel cases from an injection-molding machine when the arm cycled and struck him, causing blunt-force trauma to his head and ribs. He was hospitalized and died two weeks later. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 308685346.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=308685346", "https://web.archive.org/web/20250115130200/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=200052975" ] }, { "slug": "osha-golden-state-foods-robotic-palletizer-fatality-2009", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-golden-state-foods-robotic-palletizer-fatality-2009", "occurred_date": "2009-07-21", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker crushed by robotic palletizer arms after entering active cell at Golden State Foods (2009)", "summary": "At about 7:55 a.m. on July 21, 2009, an employee operating a robotic palletizer for Golden State Foods Corp, a food processor and packager, entered the caged robotic palletizer cell while the equipment was running and without de-energizing it. Her torso was crushed by the arms of the robotic palletizer as it attempted to pick up boxes on the roller conveyor, and she was killed. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 312661507.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=312661507", "https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=202475737" ] }, { "slug": "osha-sodecia-transfer-robot-fatality-2012", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-sodecia-transfer-robot-fatality-2012", "occurred_date": "2012-12-15", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker struck from behind and killed by transfer robot inside work cell at Sodecia Sterling Heights (2012)", "summary": "On December 15, 2012, a 38-year-old employee at Sodecia Sterling Heights was working inside a robot work cell with the interlocked gates closed when he was struck from behind by a transfer robot, crushing his chest and neck and killing him. The worker had a lock attached to his belt loop at the time of the incident. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 315412452.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=315412452", "https://web.archive.org/web/20250113102411/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=201392776" ] }, { "slug": "osha-martinrea-robotic-drill-fatality-2013", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-martinrea-robotic-drill-fatality-2013", "occurred_date": "2013-03-07", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Maintenance worker struck and killed by robotic drilling/tapping machine at Martinrea Hopkinsville (2013)", "summary": "On March 7, 2013, an employee at Martinrea Hopkinsville, LLC, a motor-vehicle-body manufacturer, was performing maintenance on a robotic drilling and tapping machine when the robotic arm activated, struck him, and killed him. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 316864164.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=316864164", "https://web.archive.org/web/20250101062234/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=202570313" ] }, { "slug": "osha-ajin-elsea-robot-crushing-fatality-2016", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-ajin-elsea-robot-crushing-fatality-2016", "occurred_date": "2016-06-18", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Temporary worker Regina Elsea crushed to death by assembly-line robot at Ajin USA auto-parts plant (2016)", "summary": "On June 18, 2016, Regina Elsea, a 20-year-old temporary worker at Joon LLC (dba Ajin USA), an auto-parts supplier to Kia and Hyundai in Cusseta, Alabama, was fatally crushed when she and coworkers entered a robotic station to clear a sensor fault and a robot restarted abruptly, pinning her inside the cell. She died the next day. OSHA's investigation cited Ajin USA and staffing agencies Alliance Total Solutions and Joynus Staffing for 27 violations, including 19 egregious instance-by-instance willful violations tied to lockout/tagout and machine-guarding failures, with proposed penalties of about $2.5 million. (U.S. DOL/OSHA news release, Dec. 14, 2016.)", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20161214-0", "https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Joon_Ajin_1156866.pdf", "https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/auto-parts-manufacturing-company-sentenced-worker-death-case", "https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/ajin-usa-joon-OSHA-hyundai-supplier-safety-penalty/644590/" ] }, { "slug": "uber-atg-herzberg-tempe-2018", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/uber-atg-herzberg-tempe-2018", "occurred_date": "2018-03-18", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "ads_testing_with_operator", "form_factor": "av", "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "Uber ATG self-driving test vehicle struck and killed pedestrian Elaine Herzberg in Tempe, Arizona - the first pedestrian death caused by an autonomous vehicle (2018)", "summary": "On March 18, 2018, a Volvo XC90 operated by Uber Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) in autonomous mode struck and killed pedestrian Elaine Herzberg, 49, as she crossed a road in Tempe, Arizona. A human safety operator, Rafaela Vasquez, was aboard as required for the developmental automated driving system (ADS) but was not watching the road at the moment of the collision. The NTSB (docket HWY18MH010, report HAR-19/03) found the ADS failed to correctly classify Herzberg and the operator's inattention as immediate causes, with Uber ATG's inadequate safety culture contributing. Vasquez later pleaded guilty to endangerment (2023). Operational class: ads_testing_with_operator - autonomous mode engaged with a human safety monitor aboard, the boundary between driverless ADS (no human aboard) and driver-assist ADAS (a human driving). This is the first pedestrian fatality caused by an autonomous vehicle on the verified record.", "model": "Uber ATG Self-Driving Vehicle (Volvo XC90)", "model_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/models/uber-atg-xc90", "company": "Uber ATG", "company_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/companies/uber-atg", "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR1903.pdf", "https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2019-HWY18MH010-BMG.aspx" ] }, { "slug": "osha-ambrose-okura-palletizer-fatality-2021", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-ambrose-okura-palletizer-fatality-2021", "occurred_date": "2021-01-14", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker crushed and killed by Okura robotic palletizer arm at Ambrose Sales (2021)", "summary": "At about 3:30 p.m. on January 14, 2021, a 57-year-old employee at Ambrose Sales Inc. was working inside a robotic cell cage servicing an Okura robotic palletizer arm when he was struck by the arm and caught between the arm and the rollers. He was crushed and killed. OSHA accident investigation (inspection 1510311.015) noted inadequate lockout/tagout, machine-guarding deficiencies, and maintenance performed on an energized robotic system.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=1510311.015", "https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=132449.015" ] }, { "slug": "osha-unipres-spot-welding-robot-fatality-2022", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-unipres-spot-welding-robot-fatality-2022", "occurred_date": "2022-09-01", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker fatally crushed by spot-welding robot during maintenance at Unipres Southeast (2022)", "summary": "At about 9:15 p.m. on September 1, 2022, a 27-year-old precision assembler at Unipres Southeast U.S.A., Inc. was placing welding tips into a welding-tip cartridge for a spot-welding robot when the robot activated and fatally crushed him. The equipment had not been properly secured with lockout procedures. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 1619852.015.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=1619852.015", "https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=149420.015" ] }, { "slug": "fatality-2023-11-10-quantum-surgical", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/fatality-2023-11-10-quantum-surgical", "occurred_date": "2023-11-10", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": "surgical", "fatality_count": null, "headline": "Patient death during Epione-assisted liver cancer ablation procedure in France", "summary": "A 70-year-old male patient treated for liver cancer by irreversible electroporation (IRE) with the Epione device to place 6 needles experienced severe abdominal bleeding at the end of the intervention. The patient underwent artery embolization and blood transfusion but subsequently died. The manufacturer's investigation found no device malfunction; the root cause was attributed to planned needle trajectories being too close to or crossing critical vascular structures, compounded by absence of intermediate control CT scans as recommended in the user manual.", "model": "Epione", "model_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/models/epione", "company": "Quantum Surgical", "company_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/companies/quantum-surgical", "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/detail.cfm?mdrfoi__id=18290630&pc=JAK" ] }, { "slug": "fatality-2023-11-28-tesla", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/fatality-2023-11-28-tesla", "occurred_date": "2023-11-28", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "driver_assist_adas", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": null, "headline": "Tesla Model Y on FSD struck and killed pedestrian Johna Story on Arizona highway, first known FSD pedestrian fatality", "summary": "A Tesla Model Y operating in Full Self-Driving mode struck and killed 71-year-old pedestrian Johna Story on an Arizona highway between Flagstaff and Phoenix. Story had stepped out of her vehicle to direct traffic around an earlier accident when the Tesla, traveling at high speed, hit her in reduced-visibility conditions from sun glare. This was the first known pedestrian fatality linked to Tesla FSD and triggered NHTSA's reduced-visibility investigation, later upgraded to Engineering Analysis EA26002 covering 3.2M vehicles. Tesla quietly settled the lawsuit with Story's family in June 2026 on undisclosed terms.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": "Tesla", "company_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/companies/tesla", "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://electrek.co/2026/06/26/tesla-fsd-pedestrian-death-settlement/" ] }, { "slug": "osha-markman-peat-robotic-arm-crushing-fatality-2024", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-markman-peat-robotic-arm-crushing-fatality-2024", "occurred_date": "2024-02-22", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: Worker crushed to death by robotic arm inside conveyor cage at Markman Peat Corp (2024)", "summary": "On February 22, 2024, a 44-year-old machine operator at Markman Peat Corp. entered a robotic cage area on a production conveyor line. He was caught within the cage under a robotic arm and died from crushing injuries to his chest. The employer indicated the worker likely crossed the conveyor, causing the robotic arm to treat him as cargo and crush him between the equipment and the cage structure. OSHA accident investigation, inspection 1730087.015.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=1730087.015", "https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=164368.015" ] }, { "slug": "osha-traffic-materials-robotic-arm-fatality-2024", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/osha-traffic-materials-robotic-arm-fatality-2024", "occurred_date": "2024-12-02", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "not_applicable", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": 1, "headline": "OSHA: 18-year-old machine operator killed by robotic arm during sensor maintenance (2024)", "summary": "On December 2, 2024, an 18-year-old machine operator (employer: Traffic Materials Supplier, LLC) was performing maintenance on a sensor inside a robotic enclosure. The robot had been stopped by entrance sensors, but while he cleaned the sensor a coworker reset the machine from the control panel, unaware he was still inside. The robotic arm activated, struck him, and reportedly lifted and placed him onto a roller platform; he sustained fatal internal and external injuries. OSHA accident investigation (inspection 1790802.015) cited lockout/tagout and machine-guarding failures.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": null, "company_url": null, "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=1790802.015", "https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/accidentsearch.accident_detail?id=172270.015" ] }, { "slug": "fatality-2026-06-19-tesla", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/fatality-2026-06-19-tesla", "occurred_date": "2026-06-19", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "driver_assist_adas", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": null, "headline": "Tesla driver charged with manslaughter after FSD crash into Texas home kills woman", "summary": "Michael David Butler, 44, was charged with manslaughter after his Tesla Model 3 crashed into a Texas home on June 19 2026, killing Martha Avila. Butler told police the vehicle was operating in Full Self-Driving mode at the time of the crash. This is one of the first manslaughter charges involving a Tesla FSD fatality.", "model": null, "model_url": null, "company": "Tesla", "company_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/companies/tesla", "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tesla-driver-charged-manslaughter-crash-texas-home-rcna352885", "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/HWY26FH014.aspx", "https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/15/tesla-driver-in-fatal-texas-crash-pressed-accelerator-100-ntsb-confirms/" ] }, { "slug": "fatality-2026-06-28-tesla", "record_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/fatality-2026-06-28-tesla", "occurred_date": "2026-06-28", "kind": "fatality", "autonomy_class": "driver_assist_adas", "form_factor": null, "fatality_count": null, "headline": "First recorded Tesla Semi fatal crash kills two people in Nevada", "summary": "A Tesla Semi electric truck struck two passenger vehicles stopped at a red light on US-50 near Dayton, Nevada, killing two people and sending one to the hospital. The driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. This is the first known fatal crash involving a Tesla Semi.", "model": "Semi", "model_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/models/tesla-semi", "company": "Tesla", "company_url": "https://registry.deploy.report/companies/tesla", "location": null, "deployment_slug": null, "source_urls": [ "https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-07-02/first-recorded-tesla-semi-crash-kills-two-people" ] } ] }