Posted on 05/01/2024 8:50:53 AM PDT by grundle
Over the last 30 years, 14 people, including three University of California, Santa Barbara, students, have fallen to their deaths from the same stretch of cliffs in Isla Vista, a neighborhood along the coast in Santa Barbara.
Jacob Parker, a 23-year-old UCSB alumnus who graduated last spring, became the 14th victim to fall off the cliffs' edge while he was attending an afternoon party April 20 at one of the many houses that back up onto the bluffs.
"He had so much potential. I was just looking forward to seeing what he would accomplish in life. This was just the beginning," Jake's mother, Deborah Parker, told Fox News Digital. "It's just tragic that it was taken away from him."
... the 6-foot-1 Jake climbed over a 42-inch tall metal wire fence onto a 33-inch wide concrete ledge, bordered by an 18-inch tall metal rail along the cliff's edge in an effort to make it to the gazebo. While trying to climb back over into the party, Jake lost his footing and fell about 50 feet to his death.
Deborah Parker and Jake's father, George Parker, have described their son's death as preventable — particularly after local lawmakers passed a safety plan in November requiring all new fences to be 6 feet tall following the death of 19-year-old UCSB student Benjamin "Benny" Schurmer on Labor Day last year.
"I'm heartbroken. I'm crushed," Jake's father, George Parker, told Fox News Digital. "I'm at the point where this is now my work. Not just getting enforcement, but I really want to push for criminal charges."
Jake's parents are pursuing criminal charges — including involuntary manslaughter — as well as a civil case related to their son's death in the hope there will not be a 15th victim.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
kids today grow up wrapped in bubble wrap so to speak. Parents protect kids from everything and anything and the result is a bunch of weaklings.
In Virginia, we have a spot with more deaths from falls - despite signs at the trailhead showing fatality numbers & warning people to stay on the trail & off the slippery rocks, people continue to disregard the warnings & fall to their deaths.
***Crabtree Falls in Virginia has a history of accidents and fatalities. According to the search results, at least 30 people have died at Crabtree Falls since the U.S. Forest Service began tracking the incidents in 1982. The falls are located in Nelson County and are known for their beauty, but also for their treacherous terrain. The rocks surrounding the falls are covered with a slippery algae, which can be hazardous for hikers who venture too close to the water.
In recent years, there have been several fatalities at the falls. For example, in 2023, a 31-year-old man from Chesapeake fell to his death on August 29. In 2024, another death was reported at the falls, bringing the total number of fatalities to at least 30.
The U.S. Forest Service has warned hikers about the dangers of the falls, and signs are posted at the site warning of the risks. Despite these warnings, many people continue to visit the falls and take risks that can lead to accidents and fatalities.
It’s worth noting that the falls are a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers, and many people visit the site without incident. However, the risks are real, and visitors should exercise extreme caution when visiting the falls.***
In Oregon, probably at least 80 years ago now, a man who owned a headland on the Oregon coast donated it to the state, because people kept falling off it to their deaths in the ocean.
I am with you. I don't see much potential if he does something like that.
... the 6-foot-1 Jake climbed over a 42-inch tall metal wire fence onto a 33-inch wide concrete ledge, bordered by an 18-inch tall metal rail along the cliff’s edge in an effort to make it to the gazebo. While trying to climb back over into the party, Jake lost his footing and fell about 50 feet to his death. Deborah Parker and Jake’s father, George Parker, have described their son’s death as preventable...
The parents are right. His death could have been prevented had they taught their son common sense concepts like not climbing over fences next to cliffs while drunk.
The “attractive nuisance” claim has been something property owners have long had to worry about.
Some problems solve themselves.
Considering the reputation of Isla Vista, the obvious question is : was alcohol involved?
Instead of “Must be this tall to participate,” have sign reading “Must be this hammered to participate.”
Lol, I think that question was suitably answered.
I was going to say the same thing but decided not to because of the Karens who would crawl out of the woodwork.
The Santa Baraba (sic-Barbara) County Sheriff's Office said that while "there is not an active criminal investigation," sheriff's office "deputies did issue a citation on the day of the incident to the adult host of the party at the residence for a violation of 36-6 of the County Code (public nuisance- see subsection c4)."
Sec. 36-6. - Public nuisance declared.[...]
(c)
A social gathering or party shall be deemed to constitute a public nuisance when, by reason of the conduct of persons in attendance, it results in one or more of the following unsafe behaviors that are likely to cause injury to persons and property and/or provoke a violent reaction from another person:
[...]
(4)
Climbing over, onto, under, or around any fence, railing, wall, or similar device installed as a barrier and placed for the purposes of public or personal safety onto any exposed bluff or cliff.
Clearly 250 kV electric fences are called for. No one will die from a fall anymore.
They could just repeal the law of gravity.
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