Google Maps Sends LA Couple to Dangerous South African Neighborhood, Resulting in Brutal Attack at Gunpoint

LOS ANGELES, CA – A high-powered Los Angeles couple is taking legal action against Google Maps, accusing the app of directing them to a dangerous South African neighborhood where they were violently attacked at gunpoint. The incident left the husband, Jason Zoladz, with a broken jaw.

According to a lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Jason and Katharine Zoladz had used Google Maps in October to travel from their Airbnb to Cape Town’s airport. Their intended destination was a wildlife preserve at the Kalahari Desert, where they planned to swap their rental car for an SUV. However, the app routed them into the Nyanga neighborhood, a place known for violent attacks on tourists by armed bandits.

The lawsuit alleges that despite warnings from US and local officials about the dangerous neighborhood, Google Maps continued to direct unsuspecting tourists to the area. The couple was directed to a stretch of highway referred to as “Hell Run” due to the violent attacks on tourists.

During the incident, armed assailants surrounded the couple’s vehicle at a red light, throwing a paving brick through the driver’s side window and breaking Jason Zoladz’s lower jaw. The attackers then proceeded to steal their belongings before fleeing. Jason was left with severe injuries and underwent three hours of reconstructive surgery.

The Zoladzes are seeking unspecified damages and claim that the company only agreed to stop directing people through the dangerous area three weeks after the attack. Google has responded by stating that it takes driver safety seriously and is reviewing the lawsuit.

Katharine Zoladz, the regional director of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s LA office, was appointed to the position in November and has been serving in various roles at the agency since 2010.

The couple’s lawsuit sheds light on the potential dangers of relying solely on mapping apps in unfamiliar or potentially hazardous locations, highlighting the need for travelers to exercise caution and verify safety information before embarking on their journeys.