In a startling turn of events, the family of Philip Paxson is pointing fingers at tech giant Google, accusing them of negligence. According to the grieving family, Google had allegedly been aware of a collapsed bridge for five years but failed to update their navigation system, leading to a tragic incident.
Philip Paxson tragically drowned in September last year after his Jeep Gladiator careened into Snow Creek in Hickory, North Carolina. This heart-wrenching incident has prompted the Paxson family to take legal action against Google, as outlined in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday.
The lawsuit reveals that Philip Paxson, a medical device salesman and father of two, was driving home from his daughter’s ninth birthday party in an unfamiliar neighborhood when Google Maps purportedly directed him to cross the collapsed bridge.
Alicia Paxson, his wife, expressed her anguish, saying, “Our girls ask how and why their daddy died, and I’m at a loss for words they can understand because, as an adult, I still can’t understand how those responsible for the GPS directions and the bridge could have acted with so little regard for human life.”
The lawsuit further highlights that there were no barriers or warning signs along the washed-out roadway where Philip Paxson met his tragic fate. He had driven off an unguarded edge, crashing approximately 20 feet below.
The North Carolina State Patrol had previously noted that the bridge was not maintained by local or state officials, and the original developer’s company had dissolved.
Several private property management companies are named in the lawsuit, with allegations that they bear responsibility for the bridge and the adjoining land.
Shockingly, the court filing suggests that multiple individuals had notified Google Maps about the bridge’s collapse in the years leading up to Paxson’s tragic accident, urging the company to update its route information.
FameGlobe TV has learned that in November 2020, Google confirmed receiving the resident’s report and was reviewing the suggested change. However, the lawsuit alleges that Google took no further action to rectify the issue.
FameGlobe TV reached out to Google for a statement, and Google spokesperson José Castañeda expressed condolences for the Paxson family. He stated, “Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in Maps, and we are reviewing this lawsuit.”
This tragic incident raises important questions about the responsibility of tech companies when it comes to ensuring the safety of their users. The Paxson family’s lawsuit against Google will undoubtedly be closely watched as it unfolds.
