New Jersey woman falls into hole while using her cellphone

[Origanalist]

I really wish I could have been there...

[tod evans]

[shakey1]

... bet she lost her signal down there.

[jllundqu]

video or it didn't happen

[Brian4Liberty]

Obviously we need a law that requires flagmen to be stationed on each side of an open sidewalk hole.

[Anti Federalist]

video or it didn't happen

Your wish is the interweb's command:

[Root]

I think walking while cell-phoning is illegal in parts of NJ

[Brian4Liberty]

In slight defense of the woman, I'd wager the raised lid blended in with the sidewalk from her angle. It's a matter of perspective. Add to that poor eyesight, and she wouldn't be able see it until the last second. Unfortunately for her, she looked at her phone during that critical second.

[specsaregood]

In slight defense of the woman, I'd wager the raised lid blended in with the sidewalk from her angle. It's a matter of perspective. Add to that poor eyesight, and she wouldn't be able see it until the last second. Unfortunately for her, she looked at her phone during that critical second.

On the opposite spectrum, I wouldn't put it past her doing it on purpose. Having watched too many personal injury lawyer commercials can do that to a person.

[CaptUSA]

I'm ashamed at those passerbys. Don't they know they're supposed to break out their phone cameras?

Damn. What is happening to Americans?

[Brian4Liberty]

On the opposite spectrum, I wouldn't put it past her doing it on purpose. Having watched too many personal injury lawyer commercials can do that to a person.

If that's the case, she's dedicated to making it believable.

There was an old bum at one shopping center that would jump out of the bushes onto hoods of cars. Police finally figured it out after the same cop responded twice for the guy. My uncle was one of his victims.

[Sola_Fide]

Your wish is the interweb's command:

Maybe she did it on purpose $$$

[Dr.3D]

Hope she didn't break her phone.

[Occam's Banana]

I enjoy a good bit of schadenfreude as much as the next person, but geez ...

Would this have been less "amusing" if she had been reading a book instead?

"There but for the grace ..." etc.

Poor lady. I hope she wasn't hurt too bad.

[Working Poor]

Obviously we need a law that requires flagmen to be stationed on each side of an open sidewalk hole.

I would think the gas company had the proper barricades to set around that door some employee probably just was too lazy to do it.

[Suzanimal]

I can't tell you how many kids (and a few adults o_O) I've watched walk right into my shopping cart at the grocery store. I use to warn them but I don't anymore. It makes my black little heart skip a beat to watch them take a wack.

[Dr.3D]

I would think the gas company had the proper barricades to set around that door some employee probably just was too lazy to do it.

Even a blind person would notice those open doors and walk around them. She just wasn't watching where she was going.

[Lamp]

I can't tell you how many kids (and a few adults o_O) I've watched walk right into my shopping cart at the grocery store. I use to warn them but I don't anymore. It makes my black little heart skip a beat to watch them take a wack.

Never happens to me.

[Anti Federalist]

I enjoy a good bit of schadenfreude as much as the next person, but geez ...

Would this have been less "amusing" if she had been reading a book instead?

"There but for the grace ..." etc.

Poor lady. I hope she wasn't hurt too bad.

Yes, I can agree with this...anybody can $#@! up and this women is seriously hurt because of that $#@! up.

The problem I have is that somehow or another, this will result in more ridiculous safety measures.

Some mandate will come down from on high, either through government or the insurance mafia that anytime any of these access doors have to be opened, the whole street will have to be shut down, traffic diverted, and a squad of safety men in hi viz jumpsuits, rotating light festooned hard hats and megaphones barking at anybody within 100 yards "DANGER DANGER MOVE ALONG!!!"

[Danke]

Yes, I can agree with this...anybody can $#@! up and this women is seriously hurt because of that $#@! up.

The problem I have is that somehow or another, this will result in more ridiculous safety measures.

Some mandate will come down from on high, either through government or the insurance mafia that anytime any of these access doors have to be opened, the whole street will have to be shut down, traffic diverted, and a squad of safety men in hi viz jumpsuits, rotating light festooned hard hats and megaphones barking at anybody within 100 yards "DANGER DANGER MOVE ALONG!!!"

Not necessary. Those women are not allowed out at night.

[Occam's Banana]

Yes, I can agree with this...anybody can $#@! up and this women is seriously hurt because of that $#@! up.

The problem I have is that somehow or another, this will result in more ridiculous safety measures.

Some mandate will come down from on high, either through government or the insurance mafia that anytime any of these access doors have to be opened, the whole street will have to be shut down, traffic diverted, and a squad of safety men in hi viz jumpsuits, rotating light festooned hard hats and megaphones barking at anybody within 100 yards "DANGER DANGER MOVE ALONG!!!"

Now THAT is something that deserves contempt and derision ...

[heavenlyboy34]

In slight defense of the woman, I'd wager the raised lid blended in with the sidewalk from her angle. It's a matter of perspective. Add to that poor eyesight, and she wouldn't be able see it until the last second. Unfortunately for her, she looked at her phone during that critical second.

Pretty much this^^ Extra emphasis on her being 67. For all we know, she hasn't aged well and is confused by the technology and/or the stuff going on around her. If she's deaf/hard of hearing that makes it an even more reasonable $#@!up. I know my dad got confused by environmental things when his hearing went bad.

[Origanalist]

I enjoy a good bit of schadenfreude as much as the next person, but geez ...

Would this have been less "amusing" if she had been reading a book instead?

"There but for the grace ..." etc.

Poor lady. I hope she wasn't hurt too bad.

I disagree. I smell a fraud after watching that video. It looks to me like she saw dollar signs as soon as she saw that opening. Hell, my 89 year old legally blind mother wouldn't have done that. I'm only 8 years younger than that woman and I sure as hell wouldn't have done that. (unless I wanted to retire)

[Working Poor]

Even a blind person would notice those open doors and walk around them. She just wasn't watching where she was going.

That is why most accidents happen they aren't looking at what they are doing. At any rate on a job like that where people are walking along a familiar route not expecting this door to be open they are looking down, up, to the side and, walking then, boom they fell down that opening.

I think the gas company was liable for the injury and should have to pay. It was the gas company's responsibility to make sure to minimize any potential hazard to the public when they doing work at street level among the public.
.

[Occam's Banana]

I disagree. I smell a fraud after watching that video. It looks to me like she saw dollar signs as soon as she saw that opening. Hell, my 89 year old legally blind mother wouldn't have done that. I'm only 8 years younger than that woman and I sure as hell wouldn't have done that. (unless I wanted to retire)

I'm skeptical. Unless and unitl some actual evidence of fraud is presented, I see no reason to think that this was anything other than an unfortunate acccident.

[Origanalist]

I'm skeptical. Unless and unitl some actual evidence of fraud is presented, I see no reason to think that this was anything other than an unfortunate acccident.

Well, I could be wrong. At any rate the best scenario is complete unawareness of ones surroundings.

[PursuePeace]

Thread title prompted a giddy laugh. I'm not a phone person. If someone is going to fall into a hole, it should be one of those annoying phone-obsessed weirdos.
Then I saw the video and read that she was 67.
Now I just feel bad.
Poor thing.

Why don't they have those things marked with yellow stripes or something, it kind of blends into the sidewalk. weird.

[Anti Federalist]

I think walking while cell-phoning is illegal in parts of NJ

Everything is illegal in NJ

[phill4paul]

On the opposite spectrum, I wouldn't put it past her doing it on purpose. Having watched too many personal injury lawyer commercials can do that to a person.

I'm with you there. She didn't pull out the cell phone until she noticed two witnesses walking towards her. Still, she'll win that lawsuit. Pretty sure OSHA requires a cattle fence marked in hunter orange around that.

[Occam's Banana]

Well, I could be wrong. At any rate the best scenario is complete unawareness of ones surroundings.

Been there. Done that. More than once.

I was walking down the sidewalk one time, and a friend of mine was on the other side of the street. He saw me and called out my name three times, louder each time. The last time was a yell, and that's what finally got my attention. I realized afterward that I had actually heard him all three times, but it didn't sink in until he yelled. I was just strollin' along in la-la land, thinkin' my thoughts ...