Toddler dies after fall at Lakers game

[rondohondo]

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=32951.45

LOS ANGELES -- A police investigation was under way Monday in the death of a toddler who plunged from a third-level luxury box at Staples Center after a Los Angeles Lakers game.

The fall occurred Sunday as 2-year-old Lucas Anthony Tang was taking pictures with his family in a skybox with a glass safety barrier that varies in height but is at least several feet high, police Officer Julie Sohn said.

"Somehow the child went over the edge of the section and fell to the seating below," Sohn said.

Fire officials said boy fell 25 to 50 feet.

so sad

[hpantazo]

this revs up my hidden fear of falling off the balcony during a game one day, it really can happen!

[LakersFan_33]

Terrible situation...Idiot parents.

[dpaps]

Terrible situation...Idiot parents.

That's a little harsh. These people are suffering through one of the worst tragedies a family can go through and you think the best way to handle it is to insult them? Have a heart, guy. For all you know the parents didn't do anything wrong and someone else was supposed to be watching the kid at that point in time. Things happen. Grow up.

[Rondo2287]

Terrible situation...Idiot parents.

That's a little harsh. These people are suffering through one of the worst tragedies a family can go through and you think the best way to handle it is to insult them? Have a heart, guy. For all you know the parents didn't do anything wrong and someone else was supposed to be watching the kid at that point in time. Things happen. Grow up.

Thats a bit harsh too.  I would hope that his parents were watching him since at the time of the fall he was taking pictures with them....

[xmuscularghandix]

Terrible situation...Idiot parents.

That's a little harsh. These people are suffering through one of the worst tragedies a family can go through and you think the best way to handle it is to insult them? Have a heart, guy. For all you know the parents didn't do anything wrong and someone else was supposed to be watching the kid at that point in time. Things happen. Grow up.

Idiots suffer too. I’ve got to agree with Lakersfan33, If you bring your toddler to a basketball game you’ve got to watch him.

[indeedproceed]

Terrible situation...Idiot parents.

That's a little harsh. These people are suffering through one of the worst tragedies a family can go through and you think the best way to handle it is to insult them? Have a heart, guy. For all you know the parents didn't do anything wrong and someone else was supposed to be watching the kid at that point in time. Things happen. Grow up.

Thats a bit harsh too.  I would hope that his parents were watching him since at the time of the fall he was taking pictures with them....

That might not actually be true..the parents supposedly were looking for him when they were notified he'd fallen. I don't know what the whole story is, but it sounds like they turned around and he got off.

Stuff like this happens to smart responsible parents and stupid pathologically incompetent parents alike. It takes less than a minute, and even the most vigilant can lose their kids for 30 seconds.

Ask any parent you know if their kids have ever wandered off when they were young..and if the parents thought something could've happened to the kid under different circumstances. Sometimes kids cross a street, leave burners on in the kitchen, climb in the dryer, eat crap they shouldn't...its always a tragedy and its always sad and objectively its always the parents fault, but there is a significant difference between a random tragedy and repeated negligence.

Personally unless this investigation shows this couple to be habitually negligent or something, I feel for them, and I hope the media quickly forgets about this. If they're decent people at all they've already got more than enough blame floating around in their own minds.

[Fafnir]

Given that we he very little information about the "how" I don't think its appropriate to call anyone idiots in this situation. Accidents happen without negligence everday.

Toddlers can climb things (or run out of sight) very quickly and you literally can't watch a child 100% of the time.

My heart goes out to that family, and everyone who witnessed the tragedy. If I saw that I'd certainly be devasted even without knowing the family. (I'd insert my nieces/nephew in their place)

[Fafnir]

I agree with you on all but this IP:

objectively its always the parents fault,

This just isn't true, as much as you want to think you can always supervise your child and forsee any danger you can't.

[indeedproceed]

I agree with you on all but this IP:

objectively its always the parents fault,

This just isn't true, as much as you want to think you can always supervise your child and forsee any danger you can't.

No no, I agree, but no matter how much rationality you want to put into it, "They should've been watching him" is always there, sitting on the edge of the conversation, and in a way, it is always true.

[Roy H.]

It shocks me, the number of parents who leave their young children unattended, if only for a minute.  Kids that young need to be watched 100% of the time.

Mistakes happen, but with young children, they have to be your #1 priority at all times.  These parents forgot that lesson, and unfortunately their son paid the ultimate price.

[LakersFan_33]

I agree with you on all but this IP:

objectively its always the parents fault,

This just isn't true, as much as you want to think you can always supervise your child and forsee any danger you can't.

No no, I agree, but no matter how much rationality you want to put into it, "They should've been watching him" is always there, sitting on the edge of the conversation, and in a way, it is always true.

I do feel sympathy for the parents, and I do realize that it's possible that someone can loose sight of their child, but when you're in such a dangerous area/situation, it's your responsibility to pay extreme attention.

[guava_wrench]

It shocks me, the number of parents who leave their young children unattended, if only for a minute.  Kids that young need to be watched 100% of the time.

Mistakes happen, but with young children, they have to be your #1 priority at all times.  These parents forgot that lesson, and unfortunately their son paid the ultimate price.

Especially when near ledges.

Not even a good view of the game from that high up.

[Gomesfan]

Terrible situation...Idiot parents.

That's a little harsh. These people are suffering through one of the worst tragedies a family can go through and you think the best way to handle it is to insult them? Have a heart, guy. For all you know the parents didn't do anything wrong and someone else was supposed to be watching the kid at that point in time. Things happen. Grow up.

Thats a bit harsh too.  I would hope that his parents were watching him since at the time of the fall he was taking pictures with them....

That might not actually be true..the parents supposedly were looking for him when they were notified he'd fallen. I don't know what the whole story is, but it sounds like they turned around and he got off.

Stuff like this happens to smart responsible parents and stupid pathologically incompetent parents alike. It takes less than a minute, and even the most vigilant can lose their kids for 30 seconds.

Ask any parent you know if their kids have ever wandered off when they were young..and if the parents thought something could've happened to the kid under different circumstances. Sometimes kids cross a street, leave burners on in the kitchen, climb in the dryer, eat crap they shouldn't...its always a tragedy and its always sad and objectively its always the parents fault, but there is a significant difference between a random tragedy and repeated negligence.

Personally unless this investigation shows this couple to be habitually negligent or something, I feel for them, and I hope the media quickly forgets about this. If they're decent people at all they've already got more than enough blame floating around in their own minds.

I agree with Lakerfan. I have a 4yo 2yo & a 1mo old. If your kid falls from a skybox there is only 1 or 2 people at fault Mom and/Dad if they where the ones that brought the child to the game!! Yeah I lose track of the kids here and there but not when there is any short of danger, say like a road, water or god forbid 25-50' up in a sky box, cause guess what 2 year olds love to climb abd love to look at what you are looking at!!!!!!

[indeedproceed]

Terrible situation...Idiot parents.

That's a little harsh. These people are suffering through one of the worst tragedies a family can go through and you think the best way to handle it is to insult them? Have a heart, guy. For all you know the parents didn't do anything wrong and someone else was supposed to be watching the kid at that point in time. Things happen. Grow up.

Thats a bit harsh too.  I would hope that his parents were watching him since at the time of the fall he was taking pictures with them....

That might not actually be true..the parents supposedly were looking for him when they were notified he'd fallen. I don't know what the whole story is, but it sounds like they turned around and he got off.

Stuff like this happens to smart responsible parents and stupid pathologically incompetent parents alike. It takes less than a minute, and even the most vigilant can lose their kids for 30 seconds.

Ask any parent you know if their kids have ever wandered off when they were young..and if the parents thought something could've happened to the kid under different circumstances. Sometimes kids cross a street, leave burners on in the kitchen, climb in the dryer, eat crap they shouldn't...its always a tragedy and its always sad and objectively its always the parents fault, but there is a significant difference between a random tragedy and repeated negligence.

Personally unless this investigation shows this couple to be habitually negligent or something, I feel for them, and I hope the media quickly forgets about this. If they're decent people at all they've already got more than enough blame floating around in their own minds.

I agree with Lakerfan. I have a 4yo 2yo & a 1mo old. If your kid falls from a skybox there is only 1 or 2 people at fault Mom and/Dad if they where the ones that brought the child to the game!! Yeah I lose track of the kids here and there but not when there is any short of danger, say like a road, water or god forbid 25-50' up in a sky box, cause guess what 2 year olds love to climb abd love to look at what you are looking at!!!!!!

Well I mean, you got kids and I don't so I guess maybe I don't get it. I just think it would be easy, you know?