Google Maps Sends NC Father of 2 Plunging to his Death off Bridge, Widow Sues
A year ago, veteran Phil Paxson was leaving a birthday party for his daughter after volunteering to stay and clean up in Hickory, North Carolina. He plugged in the 4 mile trek back to his home in the dark and rain, driving his Jeep Gladiator, a brief ten minute trip that Google Maps told him went over Snow Creek Bridge.
The Paxson family before the Google Apps tragedy
Paxson drowned after the Google app sent him over a bridge that had fallen apart in 2013 and was never repaired. He fell 20 feet into the water and was found later in his partially submerged and overturned vehicle. The state highway officials had removed barriers to the fallen bridge after recent vandalism.
