Google was forced to fix a problem in its navigation system after several cars, including a truck, became stranded on a dirt road, forcing the sheriff’s department to rescue them.
Emery County Sheriff Tyson Huntington said. ABC4 News When drivers traveling to ‘Utah’ Google maps, they end up in a remote area called East Mountain in Emery County.
It has been a constant problem where motorists, mostly out-of-town residents, end up making an emergency call for help because they are lost, stuck or have run out of gas, and most emergency calls come after midnight. Huntington said.
On Friday, an 18-wheeler hauling a 53-foot refrigerated trailer filled with Red Bull got stuck in the mud after its navigation system took it to East Mountain Road. tThe driver and his truck were rescued, but authorities said it was “the worst.”
After the incident, the sheriff’s department contacted Google, along with the news outlet, and were “very excited” when they received a response.
An 18-wheeler hauling a 53-foot refrigerated trailer full of Red Bull (pictured) got stuck in the mud Friday after its navigation system took it to East Mountain Road. Crews rescued the driver and his truck as it was wobbling on the steep hill.
A map of the road before Google made the correction to its navigation system
“We use multiple sources to update the map, including community contributions, information from local authorities, along with Street View and satellite imagery,” a Google spokesperson told News4.
“We have updated this route on our map and it should be reflected in the coming days.”
Huntington noted that the issue was fixed even before Google responded.
Google changed the location of the Utah pin and Huntington now hopes fewer stranded drivers will call.
The Emery County Sheriff’s Department posted road signs warning drivers not to proceed if they were following Google Maps to ‘Utah’ or if they were not equipped for the terrain.
On Friday, the sheriff’s office told motorists to avoid the area after the truck incident, but once it was cleared, they issued an update that the highway had been reopened.
On Monday, Huntington explained that before Google intervened, the sheriff’s department was taking its own steps to mitigate the problem.
The Emery County Sheriff’s Department posted road signs warning motorists not to proceed if they were following Google Maps to ‘Utah’ or if they were not equipped for the terrain.
“We had to take those measures to try to mitigate the problem, but until today we have had no luck with Google,” he said.
Now that Google Maps has been fixed, Huntington expects fewer calls for help.
Huntington said, “We’re happy that (travelers) will no longer encounter that problem, it won’t damage their vehicles or cause problems, and then we can keep our resources in the most populated areas of our county.” .’