Google Maps fatal accident: Google India says cooperating with authorities

The incident occurred on November 24 at around 10 a.m. on the Khalpur-Dataganj road

Tech giant Google said it is cooperating with authorities after a tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district, where three individuals lost their lives.
The victims’ car reportedly followed a Google Maps route leading to an under-construction bridge, which resulted in the vehicle plunging into the Ramganga river.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We are working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue,” a Google India spokesperson said in a statement to Moneycontrol.

The incident occurred on November 24 at around 10 a.m. on the Khalpur-Dataganj road. The victims were traveling from Bareilly to Dataganj when the car drove off the damaged section of the partially constructed bridge.

Police suspect the navigation system directed the driver to the unsafe route. “Floods earlier this year caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change was not reflected in the navigation system,” said Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam. He further noted that the lack of safety barriers and warning signs near the bridge contributed to the fatal accident.

Emergency response teams from Faridpur, Bareilly, and Dataganj police stations recovered the vehicle and the victims’ bodies from the river. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, and an investigation is ongoing. Authorities are examining the lack of updates in the navigation system and the absence of proper safety measures at the accident site