US Google Maps nightmare: Desert detours lead drivers to nowhere, stranding them for hours

Google Maps has left motorists stranded on treacherous desert roads, turning what should have been a smooth drive between Los Angeles and Las Vegas into a nightmare. Apologies have been issued, but for some, the damage is already done.

Shelby Easler and her family set out on the well-trodden path from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to catch the thrilling Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday, November. 18. The I-15 corridor, a popular route, promised a seamless journey during the Thanksgiving holidays.

Disaster struck when a dust storm shut down sections of the 15 Freeway on their return journey. Opting for what seemed like a smart alternative, Easler’s brother chose a Google Maps detour to bypass the dusty chaos, aiming to save valuable time.

“We thought it would be safer to avoid the dust storm,

“So, it was like a dust storm warning on this side, then an alternative route that would save you 50 minutes.”

Little did they know, the alternative route guided them onto a perilous path through the remote Nevada desert. The once smooth ride turned into a two-hour escapade through mountainous terrain, eventually leading them to an unpaved dirt path near Kingston Peak.

To their surprise, they weren’t alone – hundreds of other drivers had unwittingly followed the same treacherous course, reported Thai PBS World.

On the same ill-fated day, Gillian and David Strull, headed towards Las Vegas for a show, faced a similar predicament. David noticed a disparity in their Google Maps directions, adding to the confusion.

“Her Google Maps told us to get off at Cima Road and take some other back country road.

“I thought that was odd, that we were both running Google Maps, but hers is telling us to take a completely different route.”

The consequences were dire, causing gridlock on obscure desert roads and leaving numerous drivers stranded. Easler and her family endured a harrowing five-hour ordeal, stuck in the desert until their car had to be towed due to damages from the rough terrain.

“Our back right tire was coming off.”

In the aftermath, Google issued a public apology for the erroneous directions that left countless drivers in disarray. As investigations into the incident unfold, motorists are left questioning the reliability of navigation apps and the potential risks they may unwittingly face on the road.