21 September 2023 , 09:46
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A family is suing Google after a dad died after driving off a collapsed bridge - while following out-of-date directions on Google Maps.
Father-of-two Philip Paxson, from North Carolina, was driving home from his eldest daughter’s birthday on September 30, 2022, when he dropped into Snow Creek, Hickory, and drowned - according to the lawsuit filed by Philip’s family. They are suing Google for gross negligence, accusing them of failing to keep their navigation system up to date.
The bridge had collapsed almost a decade earlier after being washed away by a flood in 2013, and was never repaired. According to the lawsuit, multiple people had warned Google Maps about the bridge in the years leading to Paxson’s death warning them to update their route information - but nothing was ever done.
Alicia, Philip’s wife, says she struggles to understand how those responsible for GPS directions “could have acted with so little regard for human life”. She added: “Our girls ask how and why their daddy died, and I’m at a loss for words they can understand.”
The car was found upturned and partially submerged in the river (WCNC)It was dark and stormy when Philip was driving through the neighbourhood - with which he was unacquainted. He dropped off the edge of the roadway - which had no barriers or warning signs to alert to the danger - and plunged to his death 20 feet below. Authorities found Philip’s body inside the Jeep, which was overturned and partially underwater.
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The lawsuit includes emails from a Hickory resident who informed Google it was sending drivers over the collapsed bridge using its “suggest and edit” feature in September 2020. It is confirmed that the company received the report, and was reviewing the proposed alteration - but the tech giant still took no further action.
The bridge is not being looked after by local or state officials and its original developer has dissolved. But Hickory businessman James Tarlton and companies Tarde LLC and Hinckley Gauvain LLC are named the owners of the bridge in the lawsuit. They are accused of failing to repair the bridge or provide lighting to prevent people dropping off the edge.
The bridge collapsed back in 2013 - and was never repaired (WCNC)Alicia said on Wednesday it “still doesn’t seem real” that she has lost her husband - and is now in a legal battle with one of the biggest tech companies in the world. The lawsuit was filed in Wake County, North Carolina, as Google has a high presence in the state, Alicia’s attorney Robert Zimmerman said.
Philip’s obituary says he “put his family first and his friends, almost equal, second”. He had a lifelong affection for muscle cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, boats, really anything with a motor.”
“He traveled the world with his father-in-law riding motorcycles. He and his wife along with their two daughters enjoyed camping and boating with family and friends,” it added.
"We have the deepest sympathies for the Paxson family," a Google spokesman said. "Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in Maps and we are reviewing this lawsuit."