North Carolina man dead after following GPS to destroyed bridge that dropped into water

[Elderberry]

New York Post By Audrey Conklin 10/9/2022

North Carolina man dead after following GPS to destroyed bridge that dropped into water

A North Carolina man is dead after his GPS led him to a defunct bridge that dropped off into a creek on Sept. 30.

Philip Paxson, a 47-year-old father of two girls, had been driving his Jeep at night from his oldest daughter’s birthday party in Hickory when his GPS led him to a bridge that has been inoperative since heavy flooding in July 2013 destroyed it.

“It was a dark and rainy night and he was following his GPS which led him down a concrete road to a bridge that dropped off into a river,” Paxson’s mother-in-law, Linda McPhee Koenig, said in a Tuesday Facebook post. “The bridge had been destroyed [nine] years ago and never repaired. It lacked any barriers or warning signs to prevent the death of a 47 year old [sic] 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.”

Now, Paxson’s family is trying to bring attention to the tragedy they believe could have been avoided with proper maintenance or even just signage and barricades from the city warning drivers

More: https://nypost.com/2022/10/09/north-carolina-man-phillip-paxson-dead-after-following-gps-to-destroyed-bridge-that-dropped-into-water/

[HikerGuy83]

Good Heavens !

That is just awful.

[Ghost Bear]

“The bridge had been destroyed [nine] years ago and never repaired. It lacked any barriers or warning signs ...

There's the real problem, not the GPS.

[roamer_1]

There's the real problem, not the GPS.

That's not unusual out here... The state or county discontinues maintenance on a road and it falls into disrepair... No one goes there anymore except a few hardy souls... who is to know the bridge is out? You find out when you get there. 

[Ghost Bear]

That's not unusual out here... The state or county discontinues maintenance on a road and it falls into disrepair... No one goes there anymore except a few hardy souls... who is to know the bridge is out? You find out when you get there. 

Sounds like some people aren't doing their jobs.

[roamer_1]

Sounds like some people aren't doing their jobs.

This is BIG country. Crazy square miles compared to those who manage it. That level of increment is unlikely.

[Ghost Bear]

This is BIG country. Crazy square miles compared to those who manage it. That level of increment is unlikely.

So they don't have enough people to put up a sign that says "Road Not Maintained, Use at Your Own Risk"?

[roamer_1]

So they don't have enough people to put up a sign that says "Road Not Maintained, Use at Your Own Risk"?

That goes without saying. The sign would be superfluous.  Twenty feet up  the road you know it ain't being maintained.

[roamer_1]

And who would maintain the sign?

 

[Smokin Joe]

And who would maintain the sign?

 

Gotta sight in somewhere...

[roamer_1]

Gotta sight in somewhere...

That's right. 
 

[sneakypete]

Now, Paxson’s family is trying to bring attention to the tragedy they believe could have been avoided with proper maintenance or even just signage and barricades from the city warning drivers

I can't argue with that.

I hope the family sues the hell out of either the state or the county (whichever one that is responsible for the bridge maintenence) and tears them a new one,

[sneakypete]

Sounds like some people aren't doing their jobs.

@Ghost Bear

Just how freaking difficult and expensive is it to put  up a barrier across the road with a solar-powered orange light that flashes?

It is a hell of a lot cheaper than the money they will end up paying this man's family,even if they settle out of court.