By Lookout Staff

March 11, 2026 -- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last week released its preliminary findings in a widely publicized collision between a self-driving Waymo car and a a 9-year-old pedestrian.

The investigation into "what happened" helps clarify the initial account of the January 23 collision near Grant Elementary School that was covered by media outlets worldwide.

The collision, which resulted in minor injuries to the girl, heightened concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles like the 2024 Jaguar I-Pace sport utility vehicle operated by Waymo's 5th Generation Automated Driving System (ADS).

NTSB's investigation was based on video evidence from a school surveillance camera and cameras on the ADS-equipped vehicle, as well as information provided by the Santa Monica Police Department and Waymo LLC.

According to the findings, "The unoccupied vehicle had completed a passenger drop-off on eastbound Pearl Street at the stop sign in front of an elementary school, turned left onto 24th Street, and proceeded north.

"The crash occurred in a 25-mph speed limit school zone, approximately 40 feet north of the end of the adjacent 15-mph speed limit school zone. The weather was clear, the roadway was dry, and daylight conditions were present."

According to video evidence "a queue of five vehicles had formed in the southbound lane of 24th Street at the stop-controlled intersection with Pearl Street.

"The student pedestrian exited the right rear door of the fifth vehicle in the queue. The pedestrian then moved toward the front of her vehicle and entered the roadway, crossing at a rapid pace between her vehicle and a Chevrolet Suburban sport utility vehicle stopped in front of her vehicle."

The Waymo vehicle, which was traveling north on 24th Street at 17 mph "braked and collided with the student pedestrian near its front-right headlight assembly.

"Post-impact, the pedestrian fell, then walked to the east curb of 24th Street. The vehicle continued braking and came to rest within the northbound travel lane almost immediately."

After the collision, a Waymo remote assistance agent in Novi, Michigan, contacted 911 and "later provided the vehicle with directions to move to the curb on 24th Street north of the crash site.

"The vehicle remained at that location until the Santa Monica Police Department arrived. As a result of the collision, the student pedestrian reported minor injuries and did not require medical transport."

According to the preliminary report, "all aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes."

In addition to the NTSB's investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defect Investigations opened a preliminary evaluation of the incident on January 28.