Waymo vehicle fails to stop despite passengers dangling from windows
A Waymo robotaxi in Santa Monica had three teenagers and a young child sitting on its open window ledges while moving. A witness called Waymo's customer service, but the company did not stop the vehicle despite telling the caller they could do so if necessary.
What happened
On June 19, 2026 at around 6 p.m., three teenage boys and a younger child were photographed sitting on the open window ledges of a Waymo robotaxi as it traveled from Santa Monica through West Los Angeles near 26th Street and Olympic Boulevard.
A witness, Rojia Shahsavani, called Waymo customer service while the vehicle was moving. A Waymo employee told her the company had the ability to stop the car if a threat was determined, but the vehicle did not stop despite the passengers dangling from the windows.
Reported impact
Shahsavani told ABC7 that the incident could have been catastrophic, noting that one sudden stop, sharp turn, or instability could have caused harm. Other vehicles were honking to alert the children to get back inside the car.
Governance controls
Waymo states that riders aged under 18 must be in the Phoenix metro area to use the app and ride alone. The vehicle failed to prevent or stop dangerous passenger behavior when alerted to it by a witness.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.