A dad-of-two has died after his GPS led him over a badly damaged bridge that dropped off into a creek.
Philip Paxson, 47, was driving home at night from his oldest daughter's birthday party when his Sat-Nav led him to a bridge that's been out of action since July 2013 due to heavy flooding.
His mother-in-law Linda McPhee Koenig posted a heartbreaking tribute to Philip on her Facebook. She said: "Our family suffered a horrible loss Friday on September 30. My son-in-law, Phil Paxson lost his life returning home after celebrating his daughter's 9th Birthday in Hickory, North Carolina.
"It was a dark and rainy night and 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. 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. We are grieving his death."
Police responded to reports that a vehicle had been found overturned in a creek near 24th Street Place Northeast in Catawba County.
Family members are distraught following the untimely death and have slammed the lack of maintenance of the bridge. In a GoFundMe set up by Philip's sister-in-law said: "This was a preventable accident, the bridge he went over at night had a gaping hole and there were no barricades. It had been this way for many years.
"No one would take responsibility to repair it and now he has to pay the price. Please pray for our family during this most difficult time."
He is survived by his wife, Alicia, and their two daughters Amelia and Juliet.
After serving in the US Navy, he went to college using the GI Bill and graduated from The University of South Florida with a degree in Marketing. He had moved to North Carolina relatively recently after living in the Tampa Bay area for 23 years.
An obituary for Philip said: "Phil put his family first and his friends, almost equal, second. He was larger than life, always ready for an adventure, with a permanent smile on his face, he would give you the shirt off his back or talk you out of the one on yours. He had the best sense of humor, could connect with anyone, and make you feel like you were the most important person in the room."
