9 Accidents Caused by Following GPS, Google Maps TOO Closely

We've all had that wonderful experience when GPS or Google Maps or some other navigation system led us astray. But for these folks, it led them into situations that pretty much ruined their vehicles.

Ranker Magazine, by way of PEMCO Insurance, has released a list of 9 of the worst (funniest, actually) mishaps that  occurred due to drivers following their navigation systems despite obvious warning signs.

Click here to see the full list, but here's a couple of the best:

• In 2012 some Japanese tourists in Australia wanted to take a trip to North Stradbroke Island near Brisbaine. The people thought the 15 mile trip would be fun, but they ignored the fact that it's an ISLAND. Their GPS failed to mention the water and mud between the coast and the destination. The tourists kept following directions until their car was half under water off the coast.
• In 2009 a California woman sued Google after she was hit by a car in Park City, Utah. Lauren Rosenberg was using Google Maps to plot a walking destination during a trip there, and she strode off, following the vocal leads from her phone map. However, her first few steps led her directly into the path of oncoming traffic --a road!. She was not seriously hurt, but she actually tried to sue Google over the incident.
• You may remember in 2008 the charter bus carrying the Garfield High School girls softball team (from Tacoma) that slammed into and got stuck under the Washington Park Aboretum. The crash crumpled the top of the bus and injured 5 passengers. The driver was so intent on following directions, he failed to read multiple signs posted indicating the 9-foot bridge; the bus had a clearance of 12 feet.
• And finally, not that long ago, we had an incident right here in the Mid-Columbia, where a woman drove her car into a Franklin County Pond in September of 2016. At fault? Yup...GPS leading somebody astray. We got a picture of that one, here in our story.