A US man died after his GPS erroneously sent him along a bridge that had been destroyed by storms almost a decade ago.
Philip Paxson was driving home in Hickory, North Carolina, on September 30 when he crossed over the bridge that had been partially wiped out in 2013.
Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene at 9.45am the following day where they found a 2020 Jeep Gladiator ‘upside down and partially submerged in a creek in an area where the roadway had washed out’.
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The 47-year-old father of two was sadly found dead inside the car.
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The North Carolina Department of Public Safety told TODAY authorities believe the accident occurred shortly after 11.00pm on September 30.
In a Facebook post from his mother-in-law, Linda McPhoee Koeing wrote: "He was following his GPS which led him down a concrete road to a bridge that dropped off into a river.
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"The bridge had been destroyed 9 years ago and never repaired."
Koeing added: “It lacked any barriers or warning signs to prevent the death of a 47 year old father of two daughters.
“He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. It was a totally preventable accident. We are grieving his death.”
The bridge was destroyed by a storm in 2013, WSCOTV reports, but it was never repaired because it was not maintained by the state of North Carolina nor the city of Hickory.
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The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reportedly said barriers warning drivers about the collapsed bridge had been moved by vandals.
Highway Patrol Sgt Brian Black told WSCOTV: “Somebody should have put up some kind of barrier or barricades in this area. The developer, this is private property. It is not state maintained.”
Paxson’s wife, Alicia Paxson, told WSCOTV earlier this week: “Seems like minimal action could have saved his life. Nobody wanted to take responsibility. I don’t understand how over nine years this could be like this”.
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Paxson’s sister-in-law Kayla Bubar told WCNC: "He took a left and that left went to that bridge to nowhere, which is what they called it since 2013 when that bridge washed away and no one took responsibility to get that bridge fixed."
In a post on Facebook, Alicia shared an article about the incident and wrote: “I want everyone to be aware what an avoidable tragedy this is.”
A GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs has since been launched to help out the grieving family – you can donate here.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Topics: US News
Claire Reid