America: The car fell from the bridge into the ditch, the citizen was killed, a case was filed against Google

North Carolina: Phil Paxson, a father of two girls, was killed on the spot after a car plunged into a ditch while crossing a bridge in Hickory, his widow has blamed Google.

According to global media reports, 47-year-old Phil Paxson was returning from his 9-year-old daughter’s birthday party at a friend’s house in North Carolina at night in heavy rain. As it got dark, Phil Paxson turned on GPS directions to his house, about 4.3 miles away in 10 minutes, using Google Maps on his phone. However, the GPS led them to the Snow Creek Bridge, which partially collapsed in 2013.

As they approached the bridge, Paxon’s Jeep Gladiator plunged 20 feet off the road into a ditch. North Carolina safety officials said barriers are usually installed to prevent drivers from crossing the bridge. But after a few days of repair and demolition work, the barriers were removed from the bridge.

Paxon’s widow has filed a lawsuit against Google, blaming Google for her husband’s death. The lawsuit was filed on September 19 in North Carolina Superior Court in Wake County, where Google also has its registered office.

The lawsuit alleges that Google ignored citizens’ complaints about the broken bridge and failed to update its maps. The lawsuit also stated that as of April 2023, Google Maps shows the bridge as passable.