The Danger of Texting and Walking: Teenager Fell Into a Manhole

We all know that texting and driving is bad, but texting and walking? Fifteen-year-old teenager Alexa Longuiera learned that texting while you walk may be dangerous the hard way: she fell down a manhole while texting!

Alexa Longueira, 15, was walking on Victory Boulevard with a friend at about 5 p.m. yesterday, preparing to send a text, when she felt the ground give way.

"She literally just handed me the phone and I opened it [and] I felt this big drop," the Susan E. Wagner High School sophomore said.

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

The family said it intends to file a lawsuit.

Whether Alexa was sending a text or not shouldn't make any difference, Mrs. Longueira said, because workers never should have left the manhole unattended. And while she's thankful the sewer wasn't full at the time, that didn't make it any less gross.

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

The Staten Island Advance has the story: Link (Photo: Jan Somma-Hammel/Staten Island Advance)


Six of one, half a dozen of the other, innit. The hole should have been cordonned off, but then she should have been looking where she was going. Nest she'll be sueing trees and lamp posts.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
It wasn't a tree or lamppost it was an uncovered manhole. The DEP guys were at fault. However, only if she sustained monetary damages, ie; medical bills, should she be entitled to sue.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
As a member of the human race we should get a class action lawsuit against the parents for giving birth to such a useless dilution of the human species (lets see how that "but it was an accident" excuse works for them).
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Dont they usually put up a sign or put up cones with tape to block of open manholes? If there was none then they were at fault. If there was then she is at fault.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Idiot teen should've been watching where she was going.
As Skipweasel said... next she'll be sueing poles, trees, and whatever else she runs in to. How about curbs as well. She could fall off one of those and break her ankle.
Morons... sheesh...
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Hey moron, you walked into a human sized hole in the ground because you were too stupid to watch where you were going. That is nobody's fault but your own.

Text us next time you visit the grand canyon.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
It appears as if there is blame to be put on both parties -- the street crew should have had a few safety cones in place before they even started, but the girl also created her own accident. It's a shame her parents are using this situation in an opportunistic way instead of trying to use this as a values/life lesson she obviously needs more than the money.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
She should only sue if she was injured. Her stupidity does not absolve the crew of any blame. I just can't wait until she starts driving.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Agree with you edvim. Think parents these days have become so protective of their children that they absolve any wrongdoing their children have done for them, not giving their children an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Children more or less grow up thinking everything is "their right" or that their parents will fight for them every time they get into some trouble. I think in this case, it shouldn't be about suing and trying to find someone to blame, but for both sides to learn what safety is.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I was at a banger race on Saturday. One young lad obstructed the faster drivers, largely ruining the race for everyone. He ignored two "allow pass" flags, two "stop racing" flags and a "you're in trouble" flag.
When he met up with his family behind us in the stands he was utterly indignant because he'd been suspended for one race meet.
Did his family say "Silly arse, you deserved it, perhaps you'll play by the rules next time"?
No, they sympathised with him and asked whether he could appeal and if it might be better racing at another track.
I guess he'll either learn or give up and forever feel he's hard done by.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
She was walking WITH A FRIEND and still managed to fall into the three foot wide hole in the ground? No "Heads up, you're about to fall into the sewer" from unnamed oblivious teen #2? Those must have been some wicked awesome OMGROFLMAOWTFBBQs they were sending.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 20 comments
Email This Post to a Friend
"The Danger of Texting and Walking: Teenager Fell Into a Manhole"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More