Waymo robotaxi strikes child near Santa Monica elementary school, NHTSA opens investigation
[COLLISION]Jan 24, 2026 · Waymo · Waymo Driver (6th gen) · Sacramento, California, USA
Failure Mode
COLLISION
Event Date
Jan 24, 2026
Primary Entity
Waymo
Robotic Platform
Waymo Driver (6th gen)
Jurisdiction / Location
Sacramento, California, USA
Audit Standard
Physical State Verified
Incident Abstract & Audit Findings
Original claim shown above is no longer asserted. See the retraction notice for context.
System & Fleet Architecture
Operating Manufacturer
Hardware Platform
Operational Sectors
Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings
- Inspect Filing
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/waymo-robotaxi-hits-a-child-near-an-elementary-school-in-santa-monica/
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/29/waymo-robotaxi-hits-a-child-near-an-elementary-school-in-santa-monica/
- Inspect Filing
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
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Details
Incident Context & FAQ
What happened in Waymo robotaxi strikes child near Santa Monica elementary school, NHTSA opens investigation?
A Waymo driverless robotaxi struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California. NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation into the incident on January 28, 2026. Waymo claimed a fully attentive human driver in the same situation would have also struck the child at 14 mph. This incident was later retracted; see the retraction banner at the top of the page for the correction.
When did this incident occur?
The incident is recorded as occurring on January 24, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.
What robot was involved in Waymo robotaxi strikes child near Santa Monica elementary school, NHTSA opens investigation?
Waymo Driver (6th gen) by Waymo is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Sacramento, California, USA.
Has anyone responded to Waymo robotaxi strikes child near Santa Monica elementary school, NHTSA opens investigation?
No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.
What is the current status of Waymo robotaxi strikes child near Santa Monica elementary school, NHTSA opens investigation?
This incident is retracted on the DEPLOY registry. The page remains so the correction reaches readers, but the incident is suppressed from aggregate counts (company / model / location) so it no longer counts against anyone.