Texting and walking may be hazardous to your health

Jeanwah

A Staten Island teen learned the hard way that texting and walking can be just as dangerous as texting and driving.

Alexa Longueira, 15, was walking with a friend and was texting when she fell down an uncovered sewer manhole on Victory Boulevard in Travis on Wednesday, according to the Staten Island Advance. She fell down the open hole with sewage at the bottom, suffering some scrapes on her arms and back.

"It was 4 or 5 feet, it was very painful. I kind of crawled out and the DEP guys came running and helped me," Longueria recounted to the Advance. "They were just, like, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

The Department of Environmental Protection said workers had left the manhole unattended for just a moment to get some cones from the truck, but the agency was doing a full investigation.

"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.

Workers are supposed to block off worksites or mark them with warning signs.

The Susan E. Wagner High School sophomore was look at by doctors at Staten Island University hospital and released.

However, the girl's family says they are filing a lawsuit, though on what grounds is still unclear. Her mother, Kim Longueira, argues the fact that her daughter was walking and texting is irrelevant, and, while luckily the sewer was not full at the time, the ‘gross' factor still can't be ignored.

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

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/200 ... LHxhXgRU&D

TriumphantAngel

ok, the workers should have displayed clear warning signs and this obviously did not happen, so they must surely wear some of the responsibility as they have a duty of care to the general public. the girl needs to take some responsibility for her actions too. walk anywhere without paying attention to what's going on around you and what you are doing, and shit can happen. pardon the pun.

i know this story is a little different than texting whilst driving, but i've been to more accidents than i care to remember because people insist on texting while they are driving, despite knowing the dangers. pull over if you wanna do that, it's not that hard.

Jeanwah

I agree, both parties have their share of responsibility here. I do think the family insisting on sueing the city is a bit ridiculous though. We're just so sue-happy in this day and age aren't we. The girl crying victim isn't completely realistic here, when the accident could have easily been avoided.

jlew24asu

I recently read that texting (while driving) is more dangerous then drunk driving.

soulsinging

I need to get me a good municipal tort suit someday. They're such a cash cow!

Brisk.

Common sense....

decides2dream

jlew24asu wrote:

I recently read that texting (while driving) is more dangerous then drunk driving.

if you think about it, not really surprising thought to consider. i would imagine MORE people text when driving than drive drunk nowadays, thus....it ups the chances all the more.




that said, you BET texting while walking is dangerous.....even to other pedestrians. i cannot tell you just how many times, probably a few times each day, during my walk/commute to/from work...i am continually dodging people texting...... :evil:

jamburger

decides2dream wrote:

that said, you BET texting while walking is dangerous.....even to other pedestrians. i cannot tell you just how many times, probably a few times each day, during my walk/commute to/from work...i am continually dodging people texting...... :evil:

I don't dodge... I let them walk into me, secretly hoping that the phone falls from their texting hands and cracks into a hundred pieces on the NYC concrete.

I'll also step on the back of your heels if you're texting in front of me not keeping up with the flow.

I'm a prick!

ajedigecko

jamburger wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

that said, you BET texting while walking is dangerous.....even to other pedestrians. i cannot tell you just how many times, probably a few times each day, during my walk/commute to/from work...i am continually dodging people texting...... :evil:

I don't dodge... I let them walk into me, secretly hoping that the phone falls from their texting hands and cracks into a hundred pieces on the NYC concrete.

I'll also step on the back of your heels if you're texting in front of me not keeping up with the flow.

I'm a prick!

i can appreciate your honesty.