A computer technician from California was mindlessly following the directions given by his rental car's GPS when he turned his car onto the track and into the path of New York commuter train.
According to the
Lower Hudson Online, Bo Bai was obeying the cars GPS and turned his car, as instructed, onto the tracks. Dan Bucker, a spokesman for Metro-North, said:
"As the car is driving over the tracks, the GPS system tells him to turn right, and he turns right onto the railroad tracks,"… "That's how it happened."
He was not familiar with the area so he was relying completely on his GPS for guidance.
Apparently, his rental car got stuck and he tried to back it off the tracks but was unable to do so. Luckily, he abandoned the vehicle prior to it being struck by the approaching train. Bucker said:
"He tried to stop the train by waving his arms, which apparently was not totally effective in slowing the train."
Yeah...it takes a little more than flailing your arms to stop a train.
His lapse in judgment delayed the train carrying 500 passengers for more than two hours. He also caused three trains to be canceled and delayed ten other trains for about an hour and a half. Mr. Bai will be held responsible for the costs associated with repairing the damage as well as the loss of revenue.
Dan Bucker summed it up best saying:
"One computer brain listening to another."
