Texting teen suffers shock manhole mishap

by Stevie Smith - Jul 13 2009, 15:30

Ask any teen about their text messaging addiction, and, if they can spare a moment to look up from their handset, they’ll likely tell you that near-constant predictive texting is a harmless pastime integral to their mobile communication.

While texting may not directly harm third parties, those sending and receiving messages certainly face environmental danger – a possible outcome highlighted by a distracted New York City teenager currently suffering the ill effects of plummeting through an open manhole.

Specifically, 15-year-old Alexa Longueira might pay a little more attention to the ground beneath her feet in the future after she inadvertently fell through a Staten Island manhole leading down into the sewage system running beneath the city.

Luckily for Longueira, her manhole tumble only left her with a smattering of minor cuts and bruises, and she is expected to make a full recovery following her shock ordeal.

Reports suggest the incident happened in the few moments of time it took a city worker to remove the manhole cover and retrieve warning cones to place around the open access hole.

The U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has wished Longueira “a speedy recovery” via an official statement, adding that it plans to launch a full investigation regarding the unfortunate incident.

However, despite the DEP’s apparent apology and forthcoming investigation, the Longueira family has said it is considering the possibility of seeking compensation from the city through the courts. 

“Something like that should never have happened,” said Longueira’s mother in a FOXNews report. “There should have been cones in place, there should have been a man in place.”

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