Philip drowned in September 2022 as Gogle Maps directed him to broken bridge

Residents had notified Google about the bridge's status

Bridge was reflecting on Google Maps even 6 months after his death

Philip Paxson, a medical device salesman, US Navy veteran, and father of two children, drowned to death in September 2022 as he was taking aid of Google Maps to reach his destination and he was directed to a bridge that had already collapsed in 2013. It was on the occasion of his 2nd daughter’s ninth birthday. Philip had helped clean up the party as the rest of his family members had left early. 

The car fell 20 feet into the water due to the collapse in the bridge. The bridge wasn’t barricaded and its damaged status was not reflecting on the Google Maps portal. The residents of the area have sent multiple reminders to Google to change the status of the bridge on their portal, however even 6 months after Philip’s death it was shown as a viable route. 

Philip’s wife is currently pressing legal charges against Google. “Google Maps directed Mr. Paxson to travel home over the Snow Creek Bridge,” the suit says. “Unbeknownst to Mr. Paxson, a very large section of the Snow Creek Bridge had collapsed in 2013 and was never repaired.” Paxson drowned in the creek, the suit says.

 “We have the deepest sympathies for the Paxson family,” Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement to SFGATE. “Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in Maps and we are reviewing this lawsuit.”