A North Carolina woman, Alicia Paxson, has filed a lawsuit against Google following the tragic death of her husband, Philip Paxson. The incident occurred when Philip drove off an unmarked and unbarricaded collapsed bridge on September 30, 2022, in Hickory, North Carolina. The lawsuit, filed in Wake County, alleges that Philip Paxson was unaware of the bridge’s condition and was following outdated GPS directions provided by Google.
The suit claims negligence and seeks a jury trial but does not specify a damage amount. It names Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and three individuals who own or control the land where the collapsed bridge, known as the Snow Creek Bridge on 24th Street Place NE, is located.
According to the lawsuit, a significant portion of the bridge had collapsed in 2013 and remained unrepaired. Google Maps directed Philip Paxson to take this route as he drove home on a rainy night from his 9-year-old daughter’s birthday party, ultimately leading to his fatal accident. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle, a Jeep Gladiator. After the party, he had stayed late to assist with cleanup, while his wife transported their two daughters home in another vehicle.
The lawsuit claims that a concerned individual had notified Google about the bridge being out of service. This person allegedly used the “suggest an edit” feature in 2020 and received an email response stating that the matter was under review.
The Paxson family had recently relocated to Hickory in 2020, following Philip Paxson’s promotion as a medical device salesman. The suit notes that Philip was unfamiliar with the area, and the incident took place in an unlit, pitch-black area at 11:00 p.m. The Jeep plummeted 20 feet into the water, resulting in Philip Paxson’s drowning.
In response to the lawsuit, a Google spokesperson expressed condolences to the Paxson family and emphasized the company’s commitment to providing accurate routing information in Google Maps. They also stated that they are reviewing the matter.
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Hickory, a city with approximately 43,000 residents, is situated about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte, North Carolina.
