Waymo probed after robotaxi struck child near California school


A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives through the Richmond District of San Francisco on Jan 18, 2026. The episode adds to federal scrutiny of how Waymo’s autonomous robotaxis handle encounters near young pedestrians. — San Francisco Chronicle via AP

US auto safety regulators are investigating a Waymo autonomous vehicle that struck a child near a school in Santa Monica, California, the second recent probe to examine the behaviour of the Alphabet Inc unit’s robotaxis near children. 

The vehicle collided with the child who was running across a street from behind a double-parked SUV, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday in a notice disclosing the probe. The Jan 23 incident took place within two blocks of an elementary school during drop off hours, with children, a crossing guard and other double parked vehicles nearby, NHTSA said. 

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