Waymo submitted documents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding a January 2026 incident. An autonomous vehicle struck a child in Santa Monica, California. The company fully redacted its responses, citing confidential business information.
The federal probe began after a driverless vehicle struck a child near an elementary school during drop-off hours. The child reportedly ran into the street from behind a parked SUV. The victim sustained minor injuries.
NHTSA is evaluating the autonomous system's caution levels within school zones. Investigators are reviewing the vehicle's behavior and Waymo's post-incident response. This inquiry joins other federal investigations into Waymo technology, including incidents involving school buses.