Waymo self-driving car hits child near Santa Monica school

NHTSA investigating incident that left child with minor injuries

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:55am

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A Waymo self-driving vehicle struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school during morning drop-off hours, resulting in minor injuries to the child. The incident has triggered an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into the accident.

Why it matters

This incident raises further questions about the safety of autonomous vehicles, especially in areas with high pedestrian traffic like school zones. It comes on the heels of other recent Waymo incidents involving collisions with animals, which have drawn criticism about the company's safety record.

The details

According to police, the child was running across the street towards the school when the Waymo vehicle, operating without a safety driver, struck the child at around 17 mph. Waymo says the child appeared from behind a large SUV and that the vehicle was able to reduce speed to under 6 mph before impact. The child was evaluated by first responders and released with minor injuries.

  • The incident occurred on January 23, 2026 near 24th and Pearl streets in Santa Monica, close to Grant Elementary School during morning drop-off hours.

The players

Waymo

An autonomous driving company and subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for investigating vehicle safety issues and setting safety standards.

Santa Monica Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the incident near the elementary school.

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What’s next

The NHTSA investigation into the incident is ongoing. Waymo has reported the accident to the agency and says it will fully cooperate.

The takeaway

This latest incident involving a Waymo self-driving car highlights the continued challenges autonomous vehicle companies face in ensuring the safety of pedestrians, especially in high-traffic areas around schools. It will likely renew scrutiny of Waymo's safety record and the broader questions around the readiness of this technology for widespread deployment.