Waymo Robotaxi Strikes Child Near Elementary School

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A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck and injured a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, prompting an investigation by federal regulators. Waymo claims the child 'suddenly entered the roadway' and the vehicle 'immediately detected' the pedestrian and 'braked hard,' but still collided with the child at under 6 miles per hour. The incident comes as Waymo is already under scrutiny for its robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses.

Why it matters

This latest incident involving a Waymo vehicle and a child near a school raises serious concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles, especially in areas with high pedestrian traffic and vulnerable road users. The investigation will examine whether Waymo exercised appropriate caution given the school zone environment.

The details

According to Waymo, the incident occurred on January 23 when the child 'suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly in our vehicle's path.' Waymo claims the robotaxi 'immediately detected' the pedestrian and 'braked hard,' slowing down from 17 miles per hour to under 6 miles per hour, before colliding with the child. Waymo says the child 'stood up immediately, walked to the sidewalk, and we called 911.' The company has reported the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has opened an investigation.

• The incident occurred on January 23, 2026.
• Waymo reported the incident to the NHTSA on the same day, January 23, 2026.
• The NHTSA has since opened an investigation into the autonomous vehicle company.

What’s next

The NHTSA investigation will examine the details of the incident and determine if Waymo took appropriate safety measures given the school zone environment.