The moment that GPS devices became commonplace, a new sense of freedom was unlocked. There was no more concern about fumbling with a Thomas Guide—ask your parents—when driving in an unfamiliar part of town or to or in another state. Over time GPS tech got better and even more widely used as it is now a basic feature included in even budget smartphones. Heck, Google Maps can even read out your route’s traffic and tell you what time to leave your house to get to work on time. But one thing’s for sure: Since GPS became widely available, there have been those who have been a bit too reliant on the technology… which explains how one rented minivan ended up in the ocean, having driven clear off a Hawaiian island.
As reported by The Seattle Times, a tourist in Hawaii followed her GPS so intently, she literally drove a Dodge Caravan into a harbor. Hawaii resident Christie Hutchinson was at the harbor with her husband Sean wrapping up a day of sailing and noticed the Caravan rolling down the launch ramp. “I was just sitting there trying to seek shelter from the rain, and then the next thing, I saw a car drive directly past our boat straight into the harbor at a pretty decent speed,” said Hutchinson. “It was so confidently done, they didn’t have a look of panic on their face. They were still smiling.”
To have a smile on your face as your van goes into the briny deep shows a perhaps mind blowing faith in your GPS—after all, we can only imagine the van’s windshield was filled with the view of the (fast-approaching) ocean.
As one does when astonishing things unfold, Hutchinson pulled her phone out and started recording the incident. Don’t worry though, her husband Sean along with a few other bystanders jumped into action to aid the two tourists in the van and pulled them out of the water to safety. Even though the van eventually got completely submerged, the good Samaritans even managed to anchor the vehicle to keep it from drifting out further into the harbor.
You may think it goes without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway. While generally speaking a GPS won’t send you off a cliff or into the ocean, you should always make sure to keep your eyes on the road and use your better judgement. Also, if you know you’re going to be driving near large bodies of water, it’s probably a good idea to keep a survival kit complete with emergency escape tool in your vehicle.
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