Woman sues Google, says Maps app led husband over collapsed bridge to death

[Demovictory9]

https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/google-maps-sued-bridge-death-18381414.php


A North Carolina woman is suing Google for allegedly directing her husband across a collapsed bridge in September 2022. He followed Google Maps’ instructions, the lawsuit claims, and died after crashing.





Google Maps continued to direct traffic over the bridge and suggest it was a usable roadway until Thursday.

Alicia Paxson filed the lawsuit on behalf of her husband’s estate and herself on Sept. 19 in North Carolina’s Wake County. The complaint, viewed by SFGATE, accuses Google Maps, as well as the private owners of the collapsed bridge, of negligence — Snow Creek Bridge in Hickory, North Carolina, has allegedly been unbarricaded and still on the mapping service since it fell in 2013.

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Philip Paxson, according to the complaint, followed Google Maps’ instructions home from his daughter’s 9th birthday party in an unfamiliar neighborhood and drove off the collapsed and unbarricaded bridge in Hickory on Sept. 30, 2022.

“Google Maps directed Mr. Paxson to travel home over the Snow Creek Bridge,” the suit says. “Unbeknownst to Mr. Paxson, a very large section of the Snow Creek Bridge had collapsed in 2013 and was never repaired.” Paxson drowned in the creek, the suit says.

[tulipsandroses]

1. What a horrible tragedy. I got a ticket once following GPS

No turns on this street after a certain time. I was not familiar with the area. Big box truck in front of me blocked the sign. Cop didn’t care when I said I was following the GPS. Still gave me a ticket. I’m interested to see how this case turns out.

[eShirl]

3. shouldn't there have been road barriers there?

[Skittles]

4. no shit

seems like this is on the local authorities

[underpants]

5. It's a privately owned road and bridge

[tinrobot]

6. Then sue the owners of the road/bridge

But I guess they don't have as much money as Google.

[Demovictory9]

14. Lawsuit targets road owner too

[yardwork]

10. My first thought too! That looks incredibly dangerous.

[RobinA]

15. That's What I Thought

when I heard this the first time. This seems like a local problem. Anybody could have driven off that thing, you wouldn't need GPS. In my area that would have been triple double blockaded. If for no other reason than kids trying to do their best Evil Knievel imitation.

[rdchili96]

7. ...

Sorry, but how the hell do you NOT notice that the bridge is out?

[hlthe2b]

9. It appears to be a heavily wooded area and not that distinct. At night it would be impossible...

For those not accustomed to traveling off major roads, I can see the confusion.

[Demovictory9]

12. It was rainy and dark as i recall

[hlthe2b]

8. Many years ago, I was directed to a ferry that once functioned to cross the Mississippi River

traveling from St. Louis to Nashville and on to Atlanta. I remember the ferry from many many years previous so I didn't question the GPS "instructions," only to find the ferry had been discontinued years before, causing me many hours of delay, backtracking my route. Since this was when GPS mapping systems were relatively new, I took it in stride, but it seems there are surprisingly many issues that continue.

[Old Crank]

11. The owner is also in the lawsuit

Of course Google is because tehy are the deep pocket.
From the article people have been trying to get barricades up for quite some time and People have sent requests in to Google to note that this is unusable. So Google will probably pay out something depending on how tort law goes in that state.
Why didn't the owner have a barricade and private property signs?
Now none of that keeps the driver from watching the road ahead. That is a narrow road and the driver should be going slowly since he was unfamiliar with the location.
Four parties to share the blame.

[Demovictory9]

13. If i lived in oneof those closeby houses, i would put down orange cones

At my own expense