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Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA and NTSB investigations

[INJURY]

Jan 23, 2026 · Waymo · Waymo Driver (6th gen) · Sacramento, California, USA

All Incidents

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

On January 23, 2026, a Waymo self-driving vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, during school drop-off hours, causing minor injuries. The child ran into the street from behind a double-parked SUV. Waymo says the vehicle braked hard, reducing speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact. NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation examining the vehicle's behavior in school zones; NTSB also opened an investigation.

System & Fleet Architecture

Operating Manufacturer

WaymoView Manufacturer

Hardware Platform

Waymo Driver (6th gen)

Operational Sectors

Physical AI / Robotics

Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings

  • https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-opens-probe-after-waymo-self-driving-vehicle-strikes-child-near-school-2026-01-29/

    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-opens-probe-after-waymo-self-driving-vehicle-strikes-child-near-school-2026-01-29/

  • https://abcnews.com/US/federal-officials-investigate-after-waymo-driving-vehicle-strikes/story?id=129670053

    https://abcnews.com/US/federal-officials-investigate-after-waymo-driving-vehicle-strikes/story?id=129670053

Related Incidents & Failure Precedents

6 records on file

Incident Context & FAQ

What happened in Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA and NTSB investigations?

On January 23, 2026, a Waymo self-driving vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, during school drop-off hours, causing minor injuries. The child ran into the street from behind a double-parked SUV. Waymo says the vehicle braked hard, reducing speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact. NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation examining the vehicle's behavior in school zones; NTSB also opened an investigation.

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 autonomous vehicle struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA and NTSB investigations?

Waymo Driver (6th gen) by Waymo is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Sacramento, California, USA.

Has anyone responded to Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA and NTSB investigations?

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 autonomous vehicle struck a child near elementary school in Santa Monica, prompting NHTSA and NTSB investigations?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.