(Please rephrase since I'm not a native speaker.)

A truck driver drove into the river Rhine at full speed without even attempting to brake. The truck drifted 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) downstream with the cab submerged beneath the water before hitting the embankment. The corpse of the drowned driver was found close to the truck. It is assumed that the driver was following the instructions from his navigation system since that was the second time that a vehicle drove into the Rhine at the very same spot. However in contrast to the first incident under heavy fog and I believe in the darkness, the truck driver must have paid no attention at all to the road since he entered the river at midday in bright sunshine. The Rhine had to be closed for ships in both directions for about two hours to recover truck and driver.

Submitted on 10/15/2011

Submitted by: Hendrik Sandvoss
Reference: October 14th 2011, WDR (West German Radio & Television)

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Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
Thanks, Hendrik, but blindly following a GPS is rather common. We've received stories involving people driving into lakes, off cliffs, onto train tracks, etc. when following their GPS units.

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I have to disagree on this one. A sunlight day should have made it very obvious that there was no road in front of him. To blindly follow a GPS under those circumstances is just beyond ridiculous.

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I'm going to agree with Candi. If nothing else, the driver should have at least slowed down if he was unsure of where he was. The fact that it was a sunny day provides no excuse for reliance on GPS systems. In the end, the readers should decide!

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