News Brief
Google Assisting Probe Into Deaths Of Three Men After Their Car Falls Off Incomplete Bridge In UP While Following Navigation App Route
Google office (Representative Image)
Technology giant Google has said that it was cooperating with the Indian authorities investigating the deaths of three men who reportedly drove off an incomplete bridge while following a route on Google Maps.
The incident occurred early Sunday (25 November) in Uttar Pradesh when the group, en route to a wedding, drove their car off an unfinished bridge into the Ramganga river.
According to police officials, the driver followed Google Maps into taking the route.
The police questioned an unnamed official from the navigation app, as well as others from the government public works department, news agency PTI reported.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We're working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue," a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency AFP in an emailed statement.
“Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the GPS. As a result, the driver was misled and did not realise the bridge was unsafe,” Circle Officer of the area Ashutosh Shivam had said.
The bridge also lacked safety barriers or warning signs, which added to the danger and led to the fatal accident.
This accident follows a similar incident last year in Kerala, where two doctors lost their lives after their car plunged into the Periyar river after they followed the app.
