Sadly, This Also Isn't A Joke

[Tsukiyumi]

We all know that walking and texting is a tough combination -- but a Staten Island teen learned the hard way when she fell into an uncovered sewer manhole while trying to send a message.

Now, the family of Alexa Longueira, 15, intends to sue.

The girl suffered a fright and some scrapes on her arms back after she dropped into the hole on Victory Boulevard.

"It was four or five feet, it was very painful. I kind of crawled out and the DEP guys came running and helped me," Longueria told the Staten Island Advance.. "They were just, like, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

For its part, the Department of Environmental Protection said its workers had turned away briefly to grab some cones when the incident occurred.

"We regret that this happened and wish the young woman a speedy recovery," DEP spokeswoman Mercedes Padilla said in a statement. She added that crews were flushing a high-pressure sewer line at the time.

The girl was checked out at Staten Island University Hospital and released.

Sewer line workers are supposed to cut off pedestrian access to work sites or at least mark them with warning signs.

The family said they will file a lawsuit -- for what, though, is not immediately clear. Her mother, Kim Longueira, said it doesn't matter that her daughter was walking and texting, and also, the 'gross' factor that can't be ignored.

"Oh my God, it was putrid," she said. "One of her sneakers is still down there"

Source

Now, I understand that there should've been signs and cones up, but what exactly is the mother trying to say here? That her fifteen year old daughter isn't responsible for minding her own surroundings? Since she walked straight into an open manhole, I doubt she would have noticed any signs or cones either.

So, if I'm driving my car, and I hit some doofus that walked into the street at the last second while he's texting, I'm somehow at fault?

I hope the crap gets thrown out as soon as it's filed.

[Aaron]

Source

Now, I understand that there should've been signs and cones up, but what exactly is the mother trying to say here? That her fifteen year old daughter isn't responsible for minding her own surroundings? Since she walked straight into an open manhole, I doubt she would have noticed any signs or cones either.

Actually it looks like she had the misfortune to fall in just as they were going to put up the cones.

So, if I'm driving my car, and I hit some doofus that walked into the street at the last second while he's texting, I'm somehow at fault?

You probably would be at least partially at fault if your laws are anything like here.

I hope the crap gets thrown out as soon as it's filed.

Agreed, this is beyond stupid. I think my intelligence actually went down as a result of reading the article.

[Lazar]

A few years ago I read that they were putting up padded lampposts in London because people kept walking into them while texting.

[Lt. Staplic]

omg, how retarded can you be!

So, if I'm driving my car, and I hit some doofus that walked into the street at the last second while he's texting, I'm somehow at fault?

You probably would be at least partially at fault if your laws are anything like here.

The reason Tsuki would be charged is Tsuki in a car at least has the ability to break and avoid killing the stupid person (regardless of how much better off people would be if he didn't). I don't exactly see a manhole having the ability to sidestep the girl.

There might be some minor neglagence they could get on the part of the workers but come on, grow a pair and realize when you f'd up instead of blaming it on everyone else.

[Aaron]

The reason Tsuki would be charged is Tsuki in a car at least has the ability to break and avoid killing the stupid person (regardless of how much better off people would be if he didn't). I don't exactly see a manhole having the ability to sidestep the girl.

Yeah I know, I was commenting specifically on his car example, not linking it to this idiocy.

There might be some minor neglagence they could get on the part of the workers but come on, grow a pair and realize when you f'd up instead of blaming it on everyone else.

They could probably get them for not putting up the cones before opening the hole but this is a pretty blatant cash grab, by the parents it's seems.

[Captain Picard's Hair]

Well, I hope I've adequately convinced you that not ALL Staten Islanders are this dumb!

Pretty close to home really; my college is located on Victory Blvd.

[Tsukiyumi]

Well, I hope I've adequately convinced you that not ALL Staten Islanders are this dumb!

Pretty close to home really; my college is located on Victory Blvd.

Ah, good. Question: would a manhole cover like this be in the street, or on the sidewalk?

[Captain Picard's Hair]

Probably in the street, though I don't know where along the boulevard (it runs a pretty good length along the island) this happened and haven't been down that way much lately since it's summer and I'm off from class. I'd say most are in the streets - but not all.

[Tsukiyumi]

If it was on the sidewalk, I can see it being a hazard. If you're going to walk into the street while typing about how much you like little Billy, you need to pull your head out of your ass.

And, Kendall - nope, we have no pedestrian right-of-way laws here in Texas. We've got something called the "law of PAY ATTENTION, JACKASSES!"

[Lt. Staplic]

And, Kendall - nope, we have no pedestrian right-of-way laws here in Texas. We've got something called the "law of PAY ATTENTION, JACKASSES!"

you've got to be kidding....

though would you be charged with vehicular manslaughter if he died?

[Tsukiyumi]

And, Kendall - nope, we have no pedestrian right-of-way laws here in Texas. We've got something called the "law of PAY ATTENTION, JACKASSES!"

you've got to be kidding....

though would you be charged with vehicular manslaughter if he died?

Why wouldn't it be that way? Roads are for cars, not idiots strolling out in front of cars.

In the example, I said, "if the guy walked out at the last second". If I didn't have enough room to stop, I might get some minor ticket.

You can't just gun it in the parking lot and run down a crowd, or something.

[Lt. Staplic]

Why wouldn't it be that way? Roads are for cars, not idiots strolling out in front of cars.

In the example, I said, "if the guy walked out at the last second". If I didn't have enough room to stop, I might get some minor ticket.

You can't just gun it in the parking lot and run down a crowd, or something.

true, up here though I know a person that got a ticket because they drove across an intersection while someone was crossing the street there, they were on the other side (in front of the traffic heading the other direction) but they still wound up with the ticket.

[Captain Seafort]

true, up here though I know a person that got a ticket because they drove across an intersection while someone was crossing the street there, they were on the other side (in front of the traffic heading the other direction) but they still wound up with the ticket.

Was that specifically what the ticket was for, or were they jumping a red by doing it?

[Lt. Staplic]

true, up here though I know a person that got a ticket because they drove across an intersection while someone was crossing the street there, they were on the other side (in front of the traffic heading the other direction) but they still wound up with the ticket.

Was that specifically what the ticket was for, or were they jumping a red by doing it?

That's specifically what the ticket was for.

[Tyyr]

Actually I've seen a lot of manholes on sidewalks around here.

Also there is a case as the workers didn't block access to the open hole. Now yes, she's a dumb bitch for not paying attention to where she's going but the case can be made that if the workers had done what they should have she wouldn't have fallen in if they'd done their jobs properly.


Dumb bitch, yeah.
Got what she deserved, yep.
Blatant money grab by the parents, of course.
Gonna win? Probably.