The family of a North Carolina man who tragically lost his life after following Google Maps directions onto a collapsed bridge is now pursuing legal action against the tech giant.
Philip Paxson, a father of two, died on the night of September 30, 2022, in Hickory, North Carolina, in a devastating incident that has left his family seeking justice, as per to CBS News.
Family Pursues Legal Action Against Google Maps After Tragic Bridge Incident
The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, alleges that Google was aware of the bridge's collapse but failed to update its navigation system accordingly. According to the suit, Paxson had been using Google Maps to navigate an unfamiliar neighborhood while driving home from his daughter's ninth birthday party.
Unfortunately, the mapping app directed him to cross Snow Creek Bridge, which had collapsed back in 2013. Initially, the Paxson family had planned a camping trip for their daughter's birthday. However, due to inclement weather, they celebrated with a camping-themed party at a friend's house in the Hickory Woods development, about 50 miles north of Charlotte.
On the day of the party, Philip Paxson was visiting this neighborhood for the first time and was generally unfamiliar with the area. His wife arrived early to help set up, while he stayed late to assist with cleaning up after the celebration.
After the party concluded, Philip Paxson relied on Google Maps to guide him during the approximately 10-minute drive back home. Tragically, he had no prior knowledge of the bridge's collapse, and the lawsuit alleges that the bridge area was completely dark at 11:00 p.m.
As he followed the directions provided by Google Maps, Paxson's vehicle unintentionally veered off the unguarded edge of the collapsed bridge, plummeting approximately twenty feet below into a creek. His Jeep Gladiator was discovered partially submerged in the water, and he drowned inside.
Alicia Paxson, Philip's widow, expressed the family's profound grief and frustration, stating, "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."
She further emphasized that Google had ignored the voices of concerned community members who had repeatedly urged the company to update its mapping system and directions, according to NBC New York.
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Paxson Family's Fight for Justice
The Paxson family is determined to ensure their voices are heard, and justice is served. The lawsuit reveals that Google Maps had received notifications about the Snow Creek Bridge collapse in the years leading up to Paxson's tragic death. It includes images of messages from a Hickory resident named Kim Ellis, who had suggested edits to Google Maps on two occasions regarding the collapsed bridge.
In response to the lawsuit, Google spokesperson José Castaeda expressed condolences for the Paxson family and stated, "Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in Maps, and we are reviewing this lawsuit."
Additionally, the lawsuit names Tarde, LLC, James Tarlton, and Hinckley Gauvain, LLC, alleging that they were responsible for the maintenance and oversight of the road and bridge.
Notably, the road in question is private. The state maintains state-owned roads in North Carolina, while counties are not responsible for maintaining public or private roads.
Attorney Robert Zimmerman of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "For nine years, the community of Hickory was needlessly and senselessly placed at risk when a road bridge collapsed in 2013, and when one of the largest companies in the world refused to correct its mapping algorithms despite repeated pleas."
The Paxson family is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages following the tragic loss of Philip Paxson's life. They have requested a jury trial in their pursuit of justice, The Daily Mail reported.
