Google Maps Error Results in Demolition of Wrong House

AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof
AP Photo/Karly Domb Sadof

A house in Rowlett, Texas has been mistakenly demolished as a result of the company hired to tear down a property were provided with the wrong address on Google Maps.

Asked to take down the address at 7601 Costeau Drive, the company, Billy L. Nabors Demolition, used Google Maps to locate the house. Following the app’s instructions, they arrived at 7601 Calypso Drive, roughly a block away from where they were supposed to beand proceeded to demolish the property owned by a Lindsay Diaz, Alan Cutter and her child.

To make matters worse for the owners, they were forced to leave their house several months ago as a result of damage caused by a tornado. However, they were planning on moving back to the property in the near future. “We were geared towards getting the house ready; we were ready,” Diaz told WFAA.

Google told CNN Money that the company took some responsibility for the error.

“Google Maps did indeed show incorrect information for the houses in question,” a spokesperson said. “The issue was fixed as soon as it was brought to our attention.”

Sadly for Diaz and Cutter though, the issue of fixing their house is one that might be beyond Google’s remit.

You can follow Ben Kew on Facebook, on Twitter at @ben_kew or email at ben@yiannopoulos.net

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