Waymo has handed over an initial batch of documents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of its investigation into a January crash involving one of its robotaxis and a 9-year-old girl in Santa Monica, California. The responses, posted Friday after TechCrunch’s inquiry, were entirely redacted for confidentiality but confirm the probe is advancing after Waymo received an extension to prepare them.
NHTSA sought extensive details about Waymo’s speed-limit handling in school zones, prior complaints near schools, and software documentation. The crash occurred January 23 when a Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi traveling 17 mph braked to 6 mph before striking the child near its front-right headlight. The girl reported minor injuries and did not require medical transport, according to an NTSB preliminary report.
Waymo requested and received extra time to respond, with senior safety director Matthew Schwall noting the goal was to balance thoroughness with avoiding undue burden. NHTSA granted extensions for 10 of 12 questions and confirmed Waymo completed its submissions this week. The NTSB’s separate investigation remains ongoing, with a final report expected after 12 months.
