Neighbors say the bridge in Hickory has been washed out and never mounted for practically a decade. Phil Paxson’s household is questioning the way it could possibly be left that method so lengthy.
HICKORY, N.C. — Attorneys for the household of a person who drove off a “bridge to nowhere” in Catawba County are searching for who’s accountable.
Philip John Paxson died on Sept. 30; he was unfamiliar with the world and his automobile was present in a ravine the following day. Neighbors say that bridge collapsed practically a decade in the past, and the highway has been an issue since, however nothing has been accomplished to repair it.
“A hazard like this could’ve been instantly corrected and it’s unbelievable for 9 years they allowed this hazard to remain on this neighborhood,” Bob Zimmerman, a lawyer who’s representing the household, mentioned.
Zimmerman mentioned Phil Paxson was utilizing GPS to get dwelling when he was directed down twenty fourth Road Place NE in Hickory. They’re now calling on GPS corporations to cease displaying the bridge as a doable route as a result of it’s been out of service for practically a decade.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Father of two killed in crash on ‘bridge to nowhere,’ troopers say
He mentioned a minimum of one GPS firm eliminated the bridge as a satisfactory route this week. Zimmerman wouldn’t say which corporations they’ve been in touch with however are hoping others observe go well with.
“It shouldn’t have taken this lengthy, and it shouldn’t have taken one thing like this to occur,” Zimmerman, who’s an legal professional with Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky primarily based out of Philadelphia, mentioned.
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Zimmerman mentioned it’s nonetheless unclear who owns and may preserve the highway. Each NCDOT and Catawba County officers say it’s a personal highway, and never theirs to keep up.
The bridge was washed out and hasn’t been mounted for 9 years, however the Paxsons are new to the world.
“There aren’t any indicators from the house that the kids’s party was at to right here to offer him any discover that this was a problem,” Zimmerman mentioned.
A memorial subsequent to the bridge is rising. There are footage of happier recollections and a remaining “I really like you” from his youngsters.
“He was the foolish one, the enjoyable one, the dance events, the donuts, the McDonald’s all in the identical day,” Phil’s spouse Alicia Paxson mentioned.
She is hoping for solutions as to how this might’ve occurred.
“While you see this right here and also you truly come out, it’s actually unbelievable and what we’re going by way of is simply unimaginable and my women, I’m so unhappy for them and their father they’ve misplaced,” she mentioned. “I don’t need folks to assume I don’t need it to go down as one other accident. I need some solutions and never simply excuses.”
She believes it was preventable and is hoping a change will lastly be made.
“I simply need his dying to not be for nothing,” Alicia Paxson mentioned. “I don’t need this to occur to another person. He was a beautiful father and husband.”
Attorneys are planning to file a wrongful dying lawsuit within the coming months.
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