Waymo Robotaxi Hits Child Near Santa Monica Elementary School

Incident under investigation by NHTSA as Waymo faces other probes into autonomous vehicle issues.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 1:23pm

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A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica last Friday, with the rideshare service reporting the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The child sustained minor injuries, and the NHTSA has opened an investigation into the accident.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles, especially in areas with high pedestrian traffic like school zones. It comes as Waymo faces separate investigations into its robotaxis illegally passing school buses in other cities.

The details

According to Waymo, the child ran into the street from behind a double-parked SUV and was struck as the Waymo vehicle, traveling at around 17 mph, moved toward the school. Waymo said the vehicle braked hard, reducing speed to under 6 mph before impact, but the NHTSA will investigate whether the Waymo AV exercised appropriate caution given the school zone location and presence of young pedestrians.

  • The incident occurred on Friday, January 24, 2026 during normal morning drop-off hours near an elementary school in Santa Monica.
  • The NHTSA opened an investigation into the accident shortly after Waymo reported the incident.

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 writing and enforcing federal motor vehicle safety standards.

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What’s next

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation will examine whether the Waymo AV exercised appropriate caution given the school zone location and presence of young pedestrians, as well as investigate Waymo's post-incident response.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges autonomous vehicle companies face in ensuring the safety of their technology, especially in high-risk areas like school zones with vulnerable road users. It will be closely watched as the NHTSA investigation unfolds.