Man Dies in Harrowing Miscalculation By GPS System A North Carolina man was led to a bridge that closed almost a decade ago by his GPS system.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

For most people, using a GPS system in your car or on your phone is a commonplace, daily occurrence.

But for one North Carolina man, relying on his GPS system led to a devastating mistake that cost him his life.

On September 30, Phil Paxson was driving home from his daughter's birthday party on a reportedly stormy night in Hickory, North Carolina when his GPS system led him to what had once been a bridge.

"He was following his GPS which led him down a concrete road to a bridge that dropped off into a river. The bridge had been destroyed 9 years ago and never repaired," Paxson's mother-in-law wrote on Facebook. "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."

Paxon's wife also posted on her Facebook page saying that she wanted to make people "aware what an avoidable tragedy this is."

Per reports of the incident, barricades had been set in place to warn drivers not to drive through the area, but people had been complaining for "years" about how badly it needed to be repaired.

The roadway is private, which means that the North Carolina Department of Transportation can not actively repair it, as it is not considered a public grounds.

"In North Carolina, counties do not maintain roads. In general, owners of private roads associated with subdivisions could be the subdivision developers, a homeowners association, or the property owners in the subdivision," North Carolina's WCNC reported.

According to Psychreg, over 200,000 accidents are caused by GPS devices every year.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Branding

How to Build a Strong Brand Identity for Your Early-Stage Startup

Branding might not be your first priority, but neglecting it can hurt your startup. A strong brand identity early on sets the stage for marketing success.