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Video: S.I. Teen Discusses Fall Down Manhole While Texting
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 11, 2009
Modified Jul 11, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 11, 2009
Modified Jul 11, 2009
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Continuing the "OMG, SRSLY" story of the Staten Island teen who fell into an open manhole while text messaging, 15-year-old Alexa Longueira has been speaking with the media about her ordeal. Apparently DEP workers left the the open manhole to retrieve some orange cones—and it took a little too long for them to return. She told WCBS 2, "It was just really gross and it was shocking and scary. Because of their careless mistake I got hurt... Regardless of whether I'm texting or not if there was a cone there I'm gong to see a big orange cone. I walk that sidewalk every day, I don't expect a big hole there." So, if there was a big orange, she TOTALLY would have seen it while texting, instead of the manhole, right?
Her mother added, "It could have been an elderly person, a mother pushing a stroller. It could have been anyone," and the family may sue. The mother and daughter also spoke to My Fox NY—Alexa said, "I thought it was something out of a movie, where something was gonna take me under."
The DEP it "is conducting a full investigation of what happened during a manhole incident on Victory Boulevard where workers were flushing a high-pressure sewer on Wednesday evening. We regret that this happened and wish the young woman a speedy recovery."
Tagged
manhole
omg
open manhole
staten island
text messaging
texting
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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