Google is being sued by a family that accuses the company of causing the patriarch’s death by providing grossly outdated information despite requests from locals to update the information. Philip Paxson, who is survived by his wife and two children, drove off a bridge that collapsed and drowned while following Google Maps.

For those wondering why he didn’t see the bridge collapse, it is explained by the fact that it was dark and raining at the time, making visibility poor. It was reported that he was in an unfamiliar neighborhood, which further explains why he was unaware of the condition of the bridge.

In a statement, the family’s lawyers said:

“Unfamiliar with the local roads, he relied on Google Maps, expecting it to direct him safely home to his wife and daughters. Tragically, while driving cautiously in the dark and rain, he unsuspectingly followed Google’s antiquated directions to what his family would later know for nearly a decade called ‘ The Bridge to Nowhere’, and collided with Snow Creek, where he drowned.’

The bridge collapsed in 2013 and since then local residents have contacted Google on several occasions to change the maps to reflect this fact. However, Google did not act, and this reportedly led to Faxon driving off the bridge and drowning in Snow Creek.

The incident occurred in September 2022 in Hickory, North Carolina. He was driving home from his daughter’s ninth birthday party at a friends house. His wife and children had already left to go home but he stayed behind to help clean up the house.

It’s important to note that the case was only filed Tuesday in Wake County Civil Court, so Google has not been found guilty at the time of this writing. Although Google Maps appears to have played a part in the incident, it is also worth noting that the vandals removed warning signs from the bridge, which would have helped save his life.

Google said it has the family’s deepest sympathy and that its goal is to provide accurate information on maps. He said he is currently looking into that claim.

source: BBC news