Posted on 03/02/2005 6:05:56 AM PST by kingattax
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Teenagers in Orlando, Fla., are leaping between 80-foot high public parking garages in a new trend called "garage jumping," according to a Local 6 News investigation.
Local 6 News reported that the thrill seekers are vaulting themselves between garages in downtown Orlando.
Tim Bargfrede told Local 6 News that he was following friends when he attempted to garage jump and did not make it to the other side. Bargfrede fell six stories and was knocked unconscious on impact.
"I just didn't make it," Bargfrede said.
Bargfrede survived the 80-foot fall but was injured.
"The first time I came to the garage after my son's accident, I looked over and I just about broke out in tears," the boy's father Tim Bargfrede said. "I can't believe he actually survived. He looked like he was near death."
"He (Bargfrede) is not he first person, he is not the second person, there have been four or five other individuals before him that did this," family's attorney Vincent D'Assaro said.
The city of Orlando owns one of the downtown parking lots next to a private parking garage owned by Orlando Tower LP, according to Local 6 News.
Report: Garage Jumping Is Dangerous New Trend
Orlando Parking Garage Director Samuel Vennero admitted he was aware of at least one other incident where a garage jumper didn't make it to the other side.
"I don't think we recognized it before as a danger," Vennero said.
There are no safety fences in place on the parking garage.
D'Assaro is filing a lawsuit against the city of Orlando and the private garage owner for making little effort to correct a potential deadly risk.
"There was a very, very short length of fence that was completely ineffective in preventing this from happening," D'Assaro said.
Orlando Tower LP, the private parking lot owner, refused to comment about their responsibility, according to the report.
Since Bargfrede fell, the City of Orlando erected a partial fence but there's still room for someone to take a dangerous dive.
The family says that's not good enough and that both garages need to take responsibility before a garage jumper loses his life
He fell six stories and survived? He must have landed on his head.
I see dumb people.
Call Professor Darwin...Professor Darwin...gene pool thinning in Orlando...calling Professor Darwin!
Leapin' lizards!
If nothing else, have someone from special forces talk with them.
And when one gets hurt, he will sue and win because the garage owners didn't do enough to stop him...
How a bout ... "where are you going son?" "who are you going with?" ... and "what are you going to do?"
That person's name is Bargfrede.
is the code word still "Almighty" ?..we might need an air strike soon
And if the kid hung himself, they'd sue the company that made the rope...
isnt that the truth....jeez
(Cough) *natural selection* (cough)
It's the garage's fault. Why didn't I think of that?
In a perfect world the lawsuit would be thrown out and the kid and his family would be billed for the court costs and the costs of the emergency personnel that responded to tend to this moron.
Are they related to the Kennedys?
How about...
"There was a very, very irresponsible parent that was completely ineffective in preventing this from happening," D'Assaro said.
Jabba the Ted couldnt jump across a crack in a sidewalk
Well, I guess we know the answer to the popular question, "if your friends all jumped off a bridge, would you do it too???"
Of course the garage owner was responsible-stupidity is always someone else's fault.
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