Waymo robotaxi struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA investigation
[INJURY]Jan 23, 2026 · Waymo · Waymo Driver (6th gen) · Sacramento, California, USA
Failure Mode
INJURY
Event Date
Jan 23, 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://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/waymo-nhtsa-crash-child-school.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/waymo-nhtsa-crash-child-school.html
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Details
Incident Context & FAQ
What happened in Waymo robotaxi struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA investigation?
A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child who ran across the street from behind a double-parked SUV near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California. The vehicle braked hard, reducing speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before impact, but the child sustained minor injuries. NHTSA opened an investigation into the incident. 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 23, 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 struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA 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 struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA 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 struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA 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.