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.
(Source: NBC New York)
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7 Responses
Granted they were negligent to put some sign, or cones before they opened the manhole, but she had to watch where she was going. She has no case, judge will dismiss this case.
Rule #1, You can only sue for damages, not for what could have happened. Based on the facts, this girl can sue for the Cleaner and Hospital Bill (paid by Medicaid), and probably for less than a thousand dollars for pain and suffering. Now split that in half, as there was only 50% shared negligence, and let them find a lawyer to take their $500 case! I just love it when these ungrateful people, instead of being thankful that noone got hurt, they right away think about money being made. Well, let them get a job….
how can she sue if no injury happened?
isnt putting cones out which is what they were doing considerd a warning sign
look where you are going
Is this a Ra’ya that Ein darkon shel B’nei Odom Lehisboinein Badrochim? Or is someone who is texting while walking in the street more a Nimshal Kabehaimos….
she’s lucky it was a hole anot a moving vehicle.