After a man unknowingly drove off a collapsed bridge in Hickory, North Carolina in 2022, his family are now suing Google for failing to update their GPS app about the bridge that they say cost the man his life.
A Man’s Fatal Journey Takes a Horrifying Turn
Philip Paxson’s family is now fighting against tech behemoth Google for what they believe was a preventable tragedy.
A Father’s Fatal Drive Turns Deadly
Philip Paxson, a devoted father of two, met a tragic fate on September 30, 2022, when his vehicle plunged into Snow Creek in Hickory, NC, due to alleged misinformation from Google Maps.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
The family of the late Philip Paxson has taken Google to court, accusing the tech giant of negligence that they argue cost Philip his life.
A Dire Mistake
Paxson, a medical device salesman, was navigating an unfamiliar neighborhood when Google Maps purportedly directed him to cross a collapsed bridge that was never repaired.
A Family Grapples with Grief and Confusion
Philip Paxson’s widow, Alicia Paxson, is struggling to explain the tragedy to their daughters, seeking answers as to why safety seemed to take a backseat.
A Wife in Distress
“Our girls ask how and why their daddy died, and I’m at a loss for words they can understand because, as an adult, I still can’t understand how those responsible for the GPS directions and the bridge could have acted with so little regard for human life,” Alicia Paxson said tearfully.
The Terrifying Details of the Accident
The lawsuit revealed that Paxson drove off an unguarded edge and crashed about 20 feet below due to the misleading information provided by Google Maps.
Accusing Google of Negligence
The family contended that Google was aware of the bridge’s collapse, but failed to update its system, disregarding the potential risks to unsuspecting drivers.
An Unmaintained Bridge
The North Carolina State Patrol confirmed that the bridge had been neglected for years, lacking maintenance and leaving a dangerous, unmarked hazard.
Google Alerted Repeatedly About the Hazard
Multiple concerned individuals had alerted Google about the collapsed bridge, urging the company to rectify its route information.
Last Warnings of Looming Danger
Email records submitted in the lawsuit showed a Hickory resident’s attempts to alert Google about the bridge through the “suggest an edit” feature, to no avail.
Google Responds to the Tragedy and Lawsuit
Google’s spokesperson expressed condolences for the Paxson family, “We have the deepest sympathies for the Paxson family,” he said.
The Battle for Justice
As the lawsuit progresses, the Paxson family seeks justice for Philip and aims to shed light on the potential consequences of inaccurate GPS directions.
Hickory Mourns the Loss of a Fellow Resident
The tragic event has left the community grappling with sorrow, prompting a collective reflection on road safety and responsible tech usage.
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The post Google Maps Drove Him OFF A BRIDGE – Now, His Family Wants to Make Google Pay first appeared on Career Step Up
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gwoeii. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story
