Waymo robotaxi strikes child outside Santa Monica elementary school, federal investigation launched

Summary

In Santa Monica, California, a Waymo driverless robotaxi traveling at approximately 35 mph collided with a juvenile who opened the vehicle’s door outside an elementary school. The teen sustained injuries but survived, and emergency responders were called to the scene. The crash triggered a federal investigation into Waymo’s safety practices, adding to ongoing scrutiny such as the NTSB probe into the company’s behavior around school buses. Experts warned that higher speeds could have resulted in a far more severe outcome.