Google Maps sent 3 users on the wrong route and they ended up dead

In an accident that has sparked debate about the reliability of navigation applications, A taxi driver and two passengers lost their lives after Google Maps directed them to an incomplete bridge.

The event occurred when the vehicle, relying on the directions of the popular app, followed a route that ended in an abandoned structure without adequate lighting, which caused the car to fall from a considerable height, resulting in the instant death of the occupants. .

He bridge, known locally as the “bridge to nowhere”had been without maintenance for more than a decade and appeared on the map as a passable road. Despite repeated reports from local residents to update the route in the app, Google Maps directions remained unchanged for years.

Technological negligence and its consequences

This is not the first case in which errors in digital maps end in tragedy. According to the family of one of the victims, multiple requests had been made for Google to correct the route due to the dangerousness of the bridge. However, the company’s responses were limited to automated messages, without concrete action.

In a previous related case, which occurred in 2022 in North Carolina, another driver died after falling off a collapsed bridge. while following wrong directions in the same application. On that occasion, a lawsuit was filed against Google alleging negligence, since complaints about the unsafe route had been ignored.

After the incident, Google issued a statement expressing its “deepest condolences” to the affected families, and assured that it will review the data in its system to avoid more similar tragedies. However, the criticism about the lack of updating in their maps and dependence on user-generated information have called into question their corporate responsibility in cases like this.

Lawyers for the victims have pointed out that this type of negligence not only reflects technological failures, but also a lack of effective mechanisms to prevent risks. The case could lead to a new wave of lawsuits against the company and a deeper analysis of the regulation of navigation applications.

What actions can users take?

To avoid risks while using navigation applications, It is important to verify routes with more than one source and pay attention to physical signs along the way. Although these tools have transformed global mobility, incidents like this underscore the need not to blindly trust their accuracy, especially in little-known or difficult-to-access areas.

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