SEBASTIAN — A 16-year-old Vero Beach teenager died after falling two stories from a rooftop of an abandoned condominium in Sebastian over the weekend, deputies said. The name of the girl, who sheriff’s officials said attended Vero Beach High School, was not released Thursday.
“The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest sympathies to the family during this difficult time,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement. “We also want to remind the public, especially parents and teens, of the serious dangers posed by climbing on abandoned structures, and the legal consequences of trespassing on privately owned property.”
Sheriff’s officials described the fall as an accident. The girl was with a group of other youth at the site, which deputies say is typically used as a hangout site for partygoers.
Deputies and Indian River County Fire Rescue crews responded about 10:35 p.m. Saturday, August 8 to reports of the girl who was critically injured after falling from the four-story concrete structure in the 9800 block of River Preserve Drive. The girl fell from the roof to the second floor below, said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The undeveloped neighborhood with unfinished condos is located on the Indian River Lagoon, east of U.S. 1. Deputies arrived and found a group of juveniles and the girl on the second floor of the building.
“The investigation determined the group had been trespassing on the property and was on the roof when the teen fell through a hole, dropping approximately 29 feet to the floor below,” Jaworski said.
One of the youth tried to revive the girl before first responders arrived. The girl was flown to Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, where doctors pronounced her dead, Jaworski said.
“Criminal investigations detectives are actively investigating,” sheriff’s officials said. “At this time, all evidence indicates this was an accident.”
Hundreds of glowing rave sticks could be seen scattered at the site with three graffiti-covered condos.
The undeveloped area has a large amount of vegetation growing on the outside of the buildings. On the inside, there are shards of broken glass, sharp pipes unfinished construction, empty spray paint cans, and open elevator and air duck shafts.
The unfinished neighborhood – called River Preserve – has been abandoned since 2007, Jaworski said.
“We’ve had a couple of calls out there over the last few years,” Jaworski said. “It’s a private property. There’s a locked gate at the entrance.”
Photos by Joshua Kodis
No further information was immediately available.
