“But the GPS Told Me To…”

Here’s a very interesting story about becoming too reliant on technology. A man in Westchester County, New York was following his car’s global positioning system’s directions. With complete faith, he took every turn and instruction he was given. Then to his surprise, he found himself stuck on trains tracks. He had taken the directions too literally (without thinking), and was on the rails, facing the direction of oncoming trains.

the Journal News reports:

He said he got off the Saw Mill River Parkway on the right when his Magellan GPS unit told him to take another right - directions that landed him on top of the rails.

“My son was at my side and told me we’re on the railroad,” he said.

The three got out to try to move the Saturn. Another man also stopped to help, Silva said. They called police to report the incident and were told that railroad officials would notify any incoming trains to stop - but five to seven minutes later, the train struck the car.

The vehicle’s bumper became lodged underneath the front of the train - the 6:52 p.m. express from Grand Central Terminal to Southeast. The train had to be backed up to allow workers to remove the car, and inspect the train and the tracks for damage.

The Journal News:”Driver blames GPS for crash with Metro-North train in Bedford Hills”

[via Trainjotting}