The SMH reports that James Kim took a bad road possibly due to the advice of Google Maps, and that taking the road cost him his life.
Certainly if proven true, this could be a world first: Google kills CNet journalist.
From the SMH:
According to Associated Press, drivers are advised not to take Bear Camp Road to Gold Beach in winter, the route taken by the Kims.
“Authorities say the cyber-savvy family may have plucked the route from Grants Pass to Gold Beach from an online mapping service, unaware of the elements,” AP reported.
“Despite its impassable snowdrifts and single lane, Bear Camp Road is offered as the preferred route on some websites and on-board-directions software available on some new cars. And most of those have no business in those mountains in the winter.”
When using the Yahoo Maps, MapQuest and Google Maps online services to plot directions from Grants Pass to Gold Beach, Yahoo and MapQuest both recommend taking the same, safer highway route, while Google suggests a shortcut through roads that become dangerous in winter.
I suppose on a positive note, atleast for the Kim family, Google isn’t short on cash for a settlement.
Hi Duncan — I wrote a post http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/12/06/dont-blame-google-maps-for-kims-death/“>here you might be interested in. Among other things, there’s no evidence the Kims used Google Maps or any other online map, and even some printed maps don’t say anything about whether to use Bear Camp road or not. In any case, Google is hardly to blame for them taking a wrong turn or ignoring road signs.
“I suppose on a positive note, atleast for the Kim family, Google isn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t short on cash for a settlement.”
Wow. Way to make light of a dad’s death. Totally classless.
I’m not sure that Google can be blamed for this. I think your post “Don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t be a hero: Tips for surviving the road” was closer to the mark, really.
We’re just witnessing an urban legend in the making.
From other confirmed reports, the Kims clearly used paper maps. What we have instead are people who have used online maps and been burned by them looking for a patron saint and martyr to prove their point.
Red herring by the bushel-full.