Posted on 09/03/2010 7:45:32 AM PDT by devane617
A New Jersey woman's gripe that her sports car was destroyed by a suicidal man's 40-story fall triggered a venomous outpouring, the New York Post reported Friday.
"The damage to the car -- it saved his life, and that's what you should care about, not your car," fumed Alyssa Laib, 23, whose friend, Tom Magill, 22, survived the plunge Tuesday from a West End Avenue rooftop when he crash-landed onto Maria McCormack's 2008 Dodge Charger.
McCormack complained that the muscle car -- her "baby" -- was just repaired and fueled up when it was crushed by the falling man. She questioned whether Magill feels "like an idiot" and why it had to be her car instead of the countless others parked in Manhattan that day.
Ali Watts, 24, a Fordham University classmate of Magill, was furious over McCormack's attitude.
"I think it's unfortunate that someone would value a material object over someone's life," she said, adding that her pal needed "positive thoughts" as he faced a long recovery.
McCormack grumbled that life without wheels would be difficult -- and costly. "What [the insurance company] is going to give me for the car isn't enough for me to get another one, so I'll still be without a car for a while," she said. "Being without a car in Jersey is insane. At least the guy lived to tell about it, but you know it goes beyond just not having a car."
The married mom of three moaned, "The kids like to do sports, and they might not be able to because I won't be able to take them to practice."
After being roundly criticized, McCormack toned down her comments and backtracked to express sympathy toward Magill.
"I have not slept since this has happened. My heart and prayers go out to the family," she wrote on a website. "I've been praying for Tom. I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery."
Every crazy idea from Seinfeld seems to come true sooner or later.
That’s why you have insurance.
Don’t tell me a pro-life message board is going to cry about a car that saved a dude’s life.
I’d be upset too if some suicidal nut used my property as his landing pad.
Seinfeldian ping
This guy must look like a hard fried egg.
Hey, if this guy fell on my Cobra, I’d get him help immediately; then I’d sue him for damages.
First things first.
Hm. Wonder how long before he sues her for impeding his suicide. Not beyond the realm, is it?
“If a nut trying to commit suicide destroys my Corvette I’d get pissed too! “
Yea! He could have taken poison or something. Pretty selfish of the jumper. Not to mention, why weren’t his friends and family doing an intervention?
I would, too. For more than one reason. First, he didn't care about his life, nor did he care about any impact he'd have on others.
Second, what if she'd been in the car? Or he'd hit a pedestrian? An article I read prior to this said he hit the windshield and wound up in the back seat - were she in that vehicle, she may well be dead. He truly didn't think about anything but himself.
Well, her last name is Laib. What would you expect? Life is irrelevant.
I’d have volunteered my car for Jimmy Lee’s landing pad, had he choose that option for thinning out the ‘over population’ of Earth.
Allow me to introduce what has become an entirely foreign concept to many: cars are NOT more important than people.
On one hand, I wouldn’t be happy having to deal with the insurance and trying to figure out how I’m going to get a new car and all that. So I feel for her.
On the other hand, I don’t think it’s like the guy intentionally aimed at her car. He was disturbed, he jumped off the building, just assuming he was going to land and go splat, and her car happened to be in his flight path. Stuff happens.
Yes, she does. But, it's a relatively new car (2008), which means that the wholesale bluebook value is going to be 20-30% less than she paid for it, new. She won't be able to replace it unless she pays the deductible and settles for a lesser car.
I'm glad the guy is alive. But, that doesn't excuse him from the responsibility for his actions. If he had been at fault in a car accident that totaled her vehicle, he would have been responsible (unless NY is a no-fault state).
But, this would be covered by the guy's homeowner or liability insurance, if he has any. And I wouldn't hesitate to file a claim against him or his estate.
Am I being insensitive? If that makes you feel better, go ahead and accuse me of it. But, I didn't push that guy off the building, so I don't feel that I should have to pay for his irresponsibility.
She was lamenting the fact that his action had deprived her of her vehicle. If he had stolen it, you would likely not be so supportive of him.
By attempting to take his life in the manner he chose, he stole her car from her use.
The fact that he lived - despite his best efforts - does not diminish the impact on her life. If he had been drunk and driving, and had hit her car, the effect would be the same, and nobody would be defending him.
Why the heck should he get a pass just because he intended to kill himself?
>>Don’t tell me a pro-life message board is going to cry about a car that saved a dude’s life.
You are assuming that he was happy to have been saved by crash-landing on her car. As far as I know, he is still suicidal, and will make sure that he falls on a bare sidewalk or a pedestrian next time. In addition to destroying this hapless woman’s car, he has wrecked the lives of those who love him by committing this act in such a public, spectacular manner.
In brief- yes, I have more empathy for the woman whose car was destroyed than I do for this young man who thoughtlessly destroys lives and property.
What you said explains it perfectly.
I think it was divine intervention that saved him and I thank God for it. Hopefully this young man will get the help he needs and turn his life around.
A person who is so depressed as to take or attempts to take their own life is experiencing great mental, emotional, and physical pain. Yes, depression does cause physical pain.
I pray that none of you or someone you love ever reaches the point that he did the other day.
Have some compassion! I thought FReepers were better than this! Some of the remarks posted here are disgusting. Y’all sound like you should
be posting on the Democratic Underground rather than here.
I don’t know about all that, but had some balls for jumping from that height.
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