The bridge had been out for nine years. There were no barriers, no warning signs — just a GPS app confidently telling him it was the way home.
The Night of the Crash
On the night of September 30, 2022, Philip Paxson, 47, a medical device salesman and father of two, was driving home from his daughter's ninth birthday party in Hickory, North Carolina. Unfamiliar with the area and navigating in dark, rainy conditions, he followed Google Maps' suggested route, which directed him across Snow Creek Bridge — a bridge that had collapsed in 2013 and was never repaired, marked with no barriers or warning signs.
The Crash
Paxson drove onto the bridge and fell roughly 20 feet into the creek below, becoming trapped inside his vehicle. He was the only person in the car and drowned. His wife, Alicia Paxson, later found that his phone showed he had relied on Google Maps for the route home.
A Known Hazard
According to the family's lawsuit, Google Maps had been directing drivers across the collapsed bridge for years before Paxson's death. The suit alleges Google received a complaint about the route from a local resident in November 2020 but continued recommending it. A Google spokesperson expressed condolences to the family and said the company aims to provide accurate routing information.
The Lawsuit
In September 2023, Paxson's wife filed suit in Wake County Superior Court, North Carolina, naming Google along with the property owners connected to the bridge, alleging they were negligent in failing to maintain, repair, barricade, or post warnings about the collapsed structure, and that they violated state and local safety regulations. As of the filing, the bridge reportedly remained unrepaired and Google Maps was still routing drivers across it.
FAQ
How long had the bridge been collapsed before Paxson's death?
Nine years — it collapsed in 2013 and was never repaired or marked with warnings.
Who is being sued in connection with Paxson's death?
Google, along with the companies and individual alleged to own the bridge and surrounding property.
Has the lawsuit been resolved?
This should be verified before publishing — the case was pending as of the available information here.