Waymo Robotaxi Strikes Child Near California School

Federal investigation launched after minor collision during morning drop-off

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:07pm

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A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California last week, resulting in minor injuries to the child. Federal regulators have opened a preliminary evaluation to assess Waymo's automated driving system and its response to the incident.

Why it matters

This incident raises ongoing concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles, especially in high-traffic areas near schools where children are present. It also highlights the need for rigorous testing and oversight of self-driving technology to ensure it can properly navigate complex urban environments.

The details

According to reports, the collision occurred on January 23rd during morning drop-off hours within two blocks of a Santa Monica elementary school. The child ran into the street from behind a double-parked SUV and was hit by the Waymo robotaxi, which was operating without a human driver. Waymo's system immediately detected the child but was unable to avoid the collision, which reduced the vehicle's speed from 17 mph to under 6 mph before impact. The child sustained minor injuries but was able to walk to the sidewalk, and Waymo called 911.

  • The incident occurred on January 23, 2026 during morning drop-off hours near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California.

The players

Waymo

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

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing vehicle safety, including the investigation into this Waymo incident.

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What’s next

Federal investigators will examine how Waymo's automated driving system is designed to behave in school zones, including whether it follows posted speed limits, as well as how it responded after the collision.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges autonomous vehicle companies face in safely navigating complex urban environments, especially in areas with high pedestrian traffic like school zones. It will likely prompt further scrutiny and regulation around the deployment of self-driving cars in sensitive locations.