They Followed a Google Maps Route and Died in Unimaginable Circumstances

Three men lost their lives in India after their taxi crashed while following Google Maps directions.

A tragic and unusual story recently came to light involving the navigation app Google Maps. According to The Economic Times, three men traveling to a wedding in India were driving at night guided by Google Maps but never reached their destination. The next morning, local residents discovered the accident site. The car had plunged off the edge of a bridge. Apparently, Google Maps had directed the driver and passengers to a bridge recently destroyed by floods that had devastated the region.

"They were checking the route on Google Maps and fell off the incomplete bridge," a relative explained. "The road should have been blocked, but it wasn't. The map should not have shown the bridge as passable."

While Google cannot be entirely blamed for this tragedy, it's arguable that a simple update to the app's data could have prevented it. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred.

In 2022, two doctors in Kerala, India, died after their car followed Google Maps directions onto a flooded road and plunged into the Periyar River. Similarly, in 2020, a driver in Jakarta, Indonesia, drowned when his car was directed into a canal by the app during heavy rains. In another case from 2018 in North Carolina, USA, a man lost his life when Google Maps directed him onto a washed out bridge that had been impassable for years.

Google expressed its "deepest condolences to the families" and announced it would work closely with local authorities. Such accidents often occur at night when users of Google Maps lack clear visibility and rely almost entirely on the app for navigation. Alternative apps like Waze allow drivers to report road conditions and accidents in real time, offering a safer experience.

Unfortunately, accidents linked to Google Maps have become increasingly frequent over the years, not only involving cars but also pedestrians and cyclists. Users are advised to exercise caution and check for road conditions or closures in advance. Ultimately, if you are not sure about the road you are taking, don't be afraid to turn around.