Teens seen hanging out of Waymo in busy SoCal traffic

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Dramatic photos show teenagers hanging on the side of a Waymo vehicle in the middle of rush hour traffic in Santa Monica.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. Friday on Olympic Boulevard.

Rojia Shahsavani, who captured the photos, said she was shocked by what she saw and feared someone could be seriously hurt.

The photos show teens hanging out of the vehicle's windows and sitting on the open window ledges as the car traveled through traffic.

Shahsavani said the boys in the back of the Waymo appeared to be about 15 years old, while a boy in the front appeared to be around 10 years old. She said one of the boys was using a cellphone and taking selfies.

According to Shahsavani, she called Waymo customer service after witnessing the behavior and was told the company had the ability to shut the vehicle down. She said that did not happen and that the vehicle continued driving while the boys remained hanging out of the windows.

She said she and other drivers yelled at the boys to get back inside the vehicle, but they did not listen. Shahsavani said she followed the car for several blocks before it turned.

Shahsavani said she was extremely concerned for the boys' safety and the safety of others nearby.

"It was hard to imagine teenagers hanging out of the ledge of a Waymo," Shahsavani said. "Not only were they putting themselves at a risk, but also the other vehicles around them and the pedestrians possibly."

Eyewitness News contacted Waymo for comment but had not yet received a response.