Bareilly accident: A look at Google Maps and issues with advising incomplete routes

Google Maps has served as one of the most trusted and widely popular navigation systems used by motorists and pedestrians to reach their destinations. However, there have also been several instances where people followed the navigation system and it resulted in major mishaps.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, there people were wrongly guided by Google Maps to an under-construction bridge. Their vehicle ended up falling into a river killing all three, police said.

The incident happened on Saturday when the victims were travelling from Gurugram to Bareilly to attend a wedding. Two of them have been identified as Vivek and Amit.

As they relied on Google Maps to reach the wedding venue, the GPS ultimately led them to an unfinished flyover, reports said.

The damaged car was seen by the locals in the area the next morning. Soon after, they informed the police, while the bodies were sent for post-mortem.

“At 9:30 am today, a damaged car was found on the river Ramganga. Police were informed and arrived at the spot. When the police arrived, they saw a Wagon R, which was possibly hired as a taxi, on the river. The car went to the incomplete bridge and fell into a river from there,” the report quoted police as saying.

This was not the first time when such an accident happened due to wrong information by the GPS.

Earlier incidents in India

In May this year, a group of tourists from Telangana’s Hyderabad narrowly escaped a major tragedy when their SUV drove into a flooded canal after they followed Google Maps. The tourists were heading to Alappuzha when the driver of the Ford Endeavour, while the incident took place near Kuruppanthara in Kottayam district.

Since the area was waterlogged, the tourists felt they were still on the road and drove into the canal.

At the time of the incident, there were four people in the car. One of them somehow managed to escape and soon sought help from residents to rescue others.

In October 2023, two young doctors lost their lives in a car accident after they reportedly followed directions on Google Maps, ultimately falling into a river.

After the incident, the Kerala Police also issued cautionary guidelines for people regarding the use of technology during the monsoon season.

Outside India

In September 2022, a man from North Carolina in the US died after he drove off a broken bridge following directions suggested by Google Maps.

The victim, Philip Paxson, was a medical device salesman and a US Navy veteran. He was on his way home from his daughter’s birthday party.