Texting Teen Falls Down Manhole

[MysticalBurrito]

By Victoria Cavaliere
NBCNewYork.com
updated 34 minutes ago

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"


Dear God keep you're fucking eyes on the sidewalk not your cell phone -_-

[nick]

Very funny, and gross too. Love it!

[JackOfClubs]

Haha, that's just funny :D:)

[MoveAlong]

They should have blocked the area. Duh. But also she should have watched were she was going. Duh.

duhhh.

[nachtspiegel]

That is funny shit.

[Holding On*]

rofl silly girl :P

[Bougainvillea]

Sounds like something I would do. :bigsmile:

[Sugaree]

It's her fault really. She wasn't watching where she was going and BAM. Right down into a manhole. It's a lot better than what happens around here. We had an accident a few years ago because a woman was texting on her phone WHILE driving. Dumbasses.

[Mr. Awesome]

Unfortunatly this is the way the world has gone. Anybody will sue if they get the chance.

The path (sidewalk) should of been clearly blocked off and someone keeping an eye on the uncovered manhole.

I have no sympathy for the girl whatsoever she should of been looking where she was going. What if there was a rapist stalking her?\Maybe now she will be more aware of what is around her

[AllThatIsLeft]

*Paula tries not to laugh*
*Paula can't hold it*
*Paula points and laughs*

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, what a dumbass

[Poetic Folly]

*claps*
Delightful.
Why the fuck is she walking in the middle of the street while texting, in the first place? (Unless there's manholes on the sidewalk? :/)She must lack peripheral vision, too.

[Bougainvillea]

*Paula tries not to laugh*
*Paula can't hold it*
*Paula points and laughs*

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, what a dumbass

Haha! That's funny.
*Paula laughs so hard she chokes on an M&M*

[Antares]

Wow. Shes smart :P

Why didnt she look up?

And why wasnt there baricades around it

[INFERNO]

This shows just how vile some people can be by refusing to acknowledge it was their fault, they turn around and try to grab something from the party who isn't really at fault. Yes the workers should have covered it up better but on the other hand, the girl should have watched where she was walking. Next thing you know, someone will trip over a crack in the sidewalk while texting and sue the city. It was her fault, she should buy some new shoes and learn to walk while texting or since that appears to be too difficult for her, only walk or only text.

[Blue63]

This is something I could just totally see happening to me, though I know I'm not that stupid. Some people, *rolls eyes*

I can't believe they're suing. I mean minor injuries, it's not worth it. I mean both parties were at fault here, that's just stupid.

[Zero Beat]

two things

#1: watch where you going
#2: they should cut off the area before they start anything :/

poor girl.

[OnlyByTheNight.]

Oh she is a smart chicken!!! XD
How the hell did she manage to do that?!?

[DarkWingedAngel]

haha
thats why you have to memorize your texting pad
so you can tezt without looking

[INFERNO]

two things

#1: watch where you going
#2: they should cut off the area before they start anything :/

poor girl.

They were in the process of covering up the area when the texter came along. I do agree that they should have covered it up better but really, is it too demanding to watch where you're walking? The only sympathy I have is for the girl's lost shoe, poor shoe. For the actual girl and her family, I have no sympathy for someone who shows that much stupidity and then expects someone else to come and give them some money for her minor injuries that a normal band-aid cut suffice for. The least they could do is own up to their mistakes instead of trying to play it off as though miss.texting was doing nothing wrong.