Google is facing a lawsuit for negligence filed by the family of Philip Paxson, a North Carolina man who tragically died after driving off a collapsed bridge while relying on Google Maps for directions. The family alleges that despite receiving multiple notifications about the bridge’s collapse, the technology giant failed to update its navigation system.
Philip Paxson, a medical device salesman and father of two, met his untimely demise on September 30, 2022, when his vehicle plunged into Snow Creek in Hickory. The incident occurred as Paxson was navigating through an unfamiliar area while returning home from his daughter’s birthday celebration. According to the lawsuit, Google Maps had directed him to cross a bridge that had collapsed nine years ago and was never repaired.
The family’s distress is evident in the words of his wife, Alicia Paxson, who said, “Our girls ask how and why their daddy died, and I’m at a loss for words they can understand.”
Upon discovery of Paxson’s overturned vehicle, state troopers revealed that there were no barriers or warning signs on the washed-out roadway. The bridge was not under the maintenance of local or state officials, leading the lawsuit to name several private property management companies as responsible parties.
Records within the lawsuit disclose that Google had been alerted about the bridge’s condition through its “suggest an edit” feature as early as September 2020, but had reportedly failed to act on this critical information.
In response to the tragic incident, Google spokesperson José Castañeda expressed deep sympathies for the Paxson family and stated that the company is reviewing the lawsuit, emphasizing Google’s commitment to providing accurate routing information in Maps.