Hamilton Bridge Jumping Tragedy

[No Adventure Is Too Small]

Well it finally happened! We now have what could be claasified as a tragic
result from a wreckless nonsensical action. A young man may never walk again
another young man has permanently lost 3 digits. This is all the result of
something that has been ongoing for a while now ( from what I hear ).
Someone decides their life just isn't thrilling enough so they take a plunge
off a bridge in Hamilton, on a good day they make the jump with no consequence.
On a bad day something like Fridays event occurs now permanently changing the
lives of 2 people for a few seconds of thrill. This act in my humble opinion was never safe from its inception, and I feel its amazing that no one has died prior to this time.
I certainly wish that no one had ever been injured, but as long as you have people doing things without regard for themselves and others you will typically end up with this result. Now the blame game will most likely begin and it could be very interesting what resulting path it will take. I would not even be surprised if the Town of Hamilton is blamed in some fashion, ( you know if a municipality owns something well they are just automatically at fault right?) Sarcasm implicit in prior statement! The jumper can't be a fault, you know "the bridge was just too inviting not to jump from it". The injured boater can't be at fault "they were simply in the wrong place at the right time". I hear that within 2 hours people were at the bridge jumping again. So to say anyone learned anything from others misfortune would be to way overstate the truth of the matter. I hope that the young jumper will in fact be able to walk again in the future, and I hope the innocent boater can continue on in his life without overwhelming disadvantges caused by his injury. I just can't help but think that both would be far better served if this senseless activity had never happened in the first place.
Your opinions are greatly appreciated.

[matt_s]

Wishing tragedy wouldn't happen is the easy part. How would you prevent it?

[No Adventure Is Too Small]

Wishing tragedy wouldn't happen is the easy part. How would you prevent it?

I am sure that will be the topic of upcoming debate.
The answers that arise from that discussion may be sufficient to prevent
future incident, or maybe they won't.
The obvious answer is not all tragedy is preventable.

[RaceFan]

Anybody jumping from that bridge should be arrested , it's just plain stupid. Just like when people were jumping from the Nevada Mills Dam Bridge. Sometimes people need to be saved from hurting themselves or someone else.

[HoosierHelen]

Well it finally happened! We now have what could be claasified as a tragic
result from a wreckless nonsensical action. A young man may never walk again
another young man has permanently lost 3 digits. This is all the result of
something that has been ongoing for a while now ( from what I hear ).
Someone decides their life just isn't thrilling enough so they take a plunge
off a bridge in Hamilton, on a good day they make the jump with no consequence.
On a bad day something like Fridays event occurs now permanently changing the
lives of 2 people for a few seconds of thrill. This act in my humble opinion was never safe from its inception, and I feel its amazing that no one has died prior to this time.
I certainly wish that no one had ever been injured, but as long as you have people doing things without regard for themselves and others you will typically end up with this result. Now the blame game will most likely begin and it could be very interesting what resulting path it will take. I would not even be surprised if the Town of Hamilton is blamed in some fashion, ( you know if a municipality owns something well they are just automatically at fault right?) Sarcasm implicit in prior statement! The jumper can't be a fault, you know "the bridge was just too inviting not to jump from it". The injured boater can't be at fault "they were simply in the wrong place at the right time". I hear that within 2 hours people were at the bridge jumping again. So to say anyone learned anything from others misfortune would be to way overstate the truth of the matter. I hope that the young jumper will in fact be able to walk again in the future, and I hope the innocent boater can continue on in his life without overwhelming disadvantges caused by his injury. I just can't help but think that both would be far better served if this senseless activity had never happened in the first place.
Your opinions are greatly appreciated.

Horrible results from this free spirited youth who dived off this local bridge. Pretty darn sure he did not intend to do damage to himself or others when he took the fatefull plunge. I really believe the best question is how does the communty look forward and prevent future accidents as this?

[RaceFan]

Horrible results from this free spirited youth who dived off this local bridge. Pretty darn sure he did not intend to do damage to himself or others when he took the fatefull plunge. I really believe the best question is how does the communty look forward and prevent future accidents as this?

I'm pretty sure seatbelts fall into that catagory, and not wearing a motorcycle helmet(in states that require them). We don't intend to get in an accident but we are free to drive and ride a motorcycle for fun. Just like taking a 30 foot jump for the fun of it.

[Mrs.Slotz]

News Channel 15 interviewed the man who lost his fingers. His wife was by his side. The wife had tears in her eyes and made the comment that within an hour after this horrible accident, there were kids jumping off the bridge again! Hard to believe that the police did not block the bridge off for the rest of the day while they investigating the issue.

[RaceFan]

News Channel 15 interviewed the man who lost his fingers. His wife was by his side. The wife had tears in her eyes and made the comment that within an hour after this horrible accident, there were kids jumping off the bridge again! Hard to believe that the police did not block the bridge off for the rest of the day while they investigating the issue.

Usually it takes a bad accident to happen before anything is done to prevent something of this nature. Hopefully the County will do something to stop this before another person or persons gets hurt again.

[Torget]

Anybody jumping from that bridge should be arrested , it's just plain stupid. Just like when people were jumping from the Nevada Mills Dam Bridge. Sometimes people need to be saved from hurting themselves or someone else.

I disagree. People do stupid things all the time and yes, sometimes there are consequences that they didn't plan on happening. That's why it's called an accident. Most people learn from them but to make it illegal? Just because someone got hurt after all this time? I guess we should make driving a car, or racing illegal too then, might as well throw in fishing due to the possibility of drowning. People overeat, should we make criminals out of all fat people?

Personally I disagree with both the seatbelt and helmet laws(in some states). I think you're a dern fool for not wearing them, but I don't think it should be mandated. Same with jumping off a bridge. You're a dern fool in my opinion, but if you want to take the chance, you better be prepared to live with the cosequences if something goes wrong.

You can't save everyone or stop them from doing things like this.

[RaceFan]

I disagree. People do stupid things all the time and yes, sometimes there are consequences that they didn't plan on happening. That's why it's called an accident. Most people learn from them but to make it illegal? Just because someone got hurt after all this time? I guess we should make driving a car, or racing illegal too then, might as well throw in fishing due to the possibility of drowning. People overeat, should we make criminals out of all fat people?

Personally I disagree with both the seatbelt and helmet laws(in some states). I think you're a dern fool for not wearing them, but I don't think it should be mandated. Same with jumping off a bridge. You're a dern fool in my opinion, but if you want to take the chance, you better be prepared to live with the cosequences if something goes wrong.

You can't save everyone or stop them from doing things like this.

I agree that makes sense.

[HoosierHelen]

I disagree. People do stupid things all the time and yes, sometimes there are consequences that they didn't plan on happening. That's why it's called an accident. Most people learn from them but to make it illegal? Just because someone got hurt after all this time? I guess we should make driving a car, or racing illegal too then, might as well throw in fishing due to the possibility of drowning. People overeat, should we make criminals out of all fat people?

Personally I disagree with both the seatbelt and helmet laws(in some states). I think you're a dern fool for not wearing them, but I don't think it should be mandated. Same with jumping off a bridge. You're a dern fool in my opinion, but if you want to take the chance, you better be prepared to live with the cosequences if something goes wrong.

You can't save everyone or stop them from doing things like this.

Perhaps a 'Caution' sign posted that says 'Jumping off this Bridge has caused severe harm to others. Jump at your own risk and Caution for Watercraft in this area.'

We do have those caution signs for deer crossings. Something to the effect?

Of course we will probably need an additional sign posted for the watercraft informing them to be aware of possible falling humans from the upcoming overhead bridge.

We ALL do require reminders it seems.

[HomeyG]

I disagree. People do stupid things all the time and yes, sometimes there are consequences that they didn't plan on happening. That's why it's called an accident. Most people learn from them but to make it illegal? Just because someone got hurt after all this time? I guess we should make driving a car, or racing illegal too then, might as well throw in fishing due to the possibility of drowning. People overeat, should we make criminals out of all fat people?

Personally I disagree with both the seatbelt and helmet laws(in some states). I think you're a dern fool for not wearing them, but I don't think it should be mandated. Same with jumping off a bridge. You're a dern fool in my opinion, but if you want to take the chance, you better be prepared to live with the cosequences if something goes wrong.

You can't save everyone or stop them from doing things like this.

Simply put, you can't legislate away stupidity.

[Torget]

HH, That's a very good idea!

[armyda]

Actually I'm going to take the hard line here: And many here will **** me. A crime was committed. Why hasn't the prosecutor's office filed charges against the 17 yo?

IC 35-42-2-2
Criminal recklessness; element of hazing; liability barred for good faith report or judicial participation.
...
to perform an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury.
(b) A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally performs:
(1) an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person; or
(2) hazing;...
... commits criminal recklessness. Except as provided in subsection (c), criminal recklessness is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) The offense of criminal recklessness as defined in subsection (b) is:
(1) a Class A misdemeanor if the conduct includes the use of a vehicle;
(2) a Class D felony if:
(A) it is committed while armed with a deadly weapon; or
(B) the person committed aggressive driving (as defined in IC 9-21-8-55) that results in serious bodily injury to another person; or
(3) a Class C felony if:
(A) it is committed by shooting a firearm into an inhabited dwelling or other building or place where people are likely to gather; or
(B) the person committed aggressive driving (as defined in IC 9-21-8-55) that results in the death of another person.
(d) A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally:
(1) inflicts serious bodily injury on another person; or...


You want to know why no one has stopped jumping? There have not been any legal or civil repercussions. The sympathy being given because of his injury from his dumb actions should not stop the proper legal actions from taking place.

Sorry, you want to stop this behavior, use the current laws and legal system.

[Torget]

I still disagree. I don't believe his actions were reckless. Not too bright, but not reckless, and I don't believe that he had any intent to harm another person. He did not intend to possibly injur or cripple himself and the other guy.

I can see your point and can see that with a different view how a person could conclude the same thing you have, but in my view, it was an accident, nothing more. Granted, there was a not so good result, but I don't see anything that was/is criminal about it.

[SportsFan]

Just like a guy that was drinking and driving didn't "intend" to hurt anyone, but he did.... same thing right? The kid was performing an act that put others, including himself, in danger... that is RECKLESS.

[Torget]

Except that driving under the influence is illegal and is done knowingly by the driver that he could hit and injury or kill someone else. Jumping off a bridge is not the same thing as drinking and driving. No crime was being commited by the act of jumping off the bridge, whereas driving drunk is an illegal act that is being commited when an accident occurs.

[HomeyG]

Heard there may pass a local or county law making jumping off bridges illegal and subject to a fine, there is also talk of constructing a fence to preclude people from jumping off this bridge.

[SportsFan]

Except that driving under the influence is illegal and is done knowingly by the driver that he could hit and injury or kill someone else. Jumping off a bridge is not the same thing as drinking and driving. No crime was being commited by the act of jumping off the bridge, whereas driving drunk is an illegal act that is being commited when an accident occurs.

When you are doing something that could injure someone else it is reckless whether that activity is legal or not. You obviously THINK that if you didn't intend to hurt anyone you are fine and dandy and you are not. You are trying to tell me hitting someone upside the head with a baseball bat is fine as long as I didn't intend to hurt them. I would love to hear that defense in the court of law, "I wasn't trying to hurt him, just trying to knock some sense into him."

Without a doubt jumping off a bridge is reckless and in this case caused serious injury to an innocent bystander. This kid should be hauled off to the pokey and be charged with a crime.

[bigbass]

Maybe they should consider building a platform somewhere on the lake so the kids have a safe place to jump from. I have a sneaking suspicion that Hamilton lake and the Hamilton community are going to be around for a while.