Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Home › News › Local News

Officials not talking about fatal plunge

By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 16, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated June 16, 2008 at 4 p.m.

Text size  

More Local News

More stories »

Officials of Brooks Tower aren't commenting on Sunday's fatal plunge from a balcony there, the second such incident in three years.

A spokesman for Brooks Tower, a landmark 42-story high-rise residency in downtown Denver, said "we're not really talking to anybody."

The Denver Coroner's office still hasn't released the name of the victim and Denver Police haven't determined whether the fall was accidental or suicidal. The man, who fell to his death about noon Sunday, was believed to be in his 20s, Denver Police spokesman John White said.

In 2006, Denver police ruled it an accidental death when Brian Thompson fell to his death from a balcony at Brooks Tower, 1020 15th St.

If this latest case turns out to be an accidental fall over the railing from the balcony's deck, then it "absolutely" could become a watershed anecdote to support the raising of the 42-inch minimum, said Tom Meyers, who represents Colorado on the International Code Council and works with Colorado Code Consultants.

But going over a 42-inch-high railing "almost implies active deliberation, or standing on a piece of furniture," Meyers said.

The international code that Denver adheres to requires that railings be a minimum of 42 inches in height, said Julius Zasko, spokesman for Denver's Community Planning and Development office.

That also was the minimum required height in 1967 when Brooks Tower was built, he said.

The 42-inch height requirement puts the railing above the center of gravity of an adult, Zasko said.

"Is it possible that Americans are taller today than they were years ago? Yes, it's possible," he said. "That's why we work with the International Code Council, to form a consensus and to constantly evaluate and improve the code."

Raising the minimum height above 42 inches isn't something that code consultants talk about, Meyers said.

In fact, most of the talk is about raising the height requirement from 36 inches to 42 inches for balconies on the second floor or lower, he said.

"I have heard nothing advocating raising the height above 42 inches," he said.

He noted that building codes aren't fool-proof and can't take the place of common sense. "We don't want to imply that we've created a perfectly safe environment" with the codes, he said. "People do terrible things inside these buildings."

Carla Madison, who represents downtown Denver on the Denver City Council, noted that she often visits a friend on the 33rd floor at Brooks Tower and they sit out on the balcony.

"I feel perfectly safe," she said. "But we don't sit on the railing.

"The balconies I've seen seem fine for normal, sober people."

"But I'm only 5-foot-3. If you're 7 feet tall, you have to pay extra attention."

Denver City Councilwoman Jeanne Robb, who heads the Blueprint Denver committee, said the panel reviews changes in codes, including fire codes recommended by residents or people in the industry, "but I don't recall hearing specifically about heights" as a concern.

"This is a real tragedy," she said. "I know we use the International Building Code. We have regular conferences with a committee of citizens" to see about toughening the codes.

"What strikes me is that it seems an amazing coincidence if Brooks Tower has had two of these, given all the high rises we have in Denver."

Comments

  • June 16, 2008

    9:51 a.m.

    airbornebigfoot writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • June 16, 2008

    1:02 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nicktaste writes:

    I know the guy who fell, Eddie B, he was a nice guy, a real tragedy, may he RIP

  • June 16, 2008

    1:39 p.m.

    superbad writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • June 16, 2008

    1:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RIKKI1303 writes:

    Eddie was my daughter's best friend. I am very sad about what happened. I met Eddie only a few times, but he was a very caring person. It truely is a tragedy. I have also requested the the comments made in POOR TASTE be removed. People who write such things deserve what they get. What comes around goes around.

  • June 16, 2008

    3:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nonayerbsns writes:

    RIKKI1303:

    I, too, have suggested removal. I have seen the Rocky remove things that were benign (though, political). Their failure to do so in this case would only open them up to possible lawsuits from family and friends. I hope they take heed and remove the posts above. I am soooo sorry for your (and your daughter's) loss.

    Poor guy.

  • June 16, 2008

    3:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RIKKI1303 writes:

    How can Carla Madison suggest that the balconies are fine for SOBER people. Does she know something we don't???? How can she assume that Eddie was intoxicated. Until all the facts are in, people should not ASSUME anything.

  • June 16, 2008

    5:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MyUsername writes:

    Regardless of whether or not someone is new to blogging, all of the comments posted are of such horrible taste. I happen to be one of the 3 other people that in the apartment when Brian Thompson died, and subsequently called 911 while hovering over his dead body. Does this sound like a situation that calls for jokes and stupid comments such as the ones listed? It also does not matter what the person was doing when they fell, their fault or not, they are dead. So, next time tastless thoughts and remarks pop into your head, keep them there, and have a little respect for the friends, and family of the victims.

  • June 16, 2008

    6:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    larrylbishop writes:

    thank you for removing those tasteless comments left by those with no heart and intelligence ........
    Eddie was a sweet human being that touched many lives. R I P Eddie B / God Bless You

  • June 16, 2008

    7:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DaveJohnson writes:

    I don't know what was said earlier that has everybody on here in an uproar but Eddie was my best friend and we will miss him dearly. We are having a candlelight vigil there tomorrow night at 8 on the corner of 15th and Curtis for anyone who cares to attend. R.I.P. Eddie Bennett, we love you very much and we're going to miss you even more.

  • June 16, 2008

    7:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MyUsername writes:

    To all of you that knew Eddie, I just wanted to tell you my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I unfortunately know exactly what you are going through, and I am sorry that you are having to. All I can say is take it a day at a time....you will find peace eventually.

  • June 16, 2008

    10:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ihavenoname writes:

    What was said earlier was in poor taste, by insensitive people. There are people devastated and heartbroken over this. Have you no hearts?

    I only met Eddie a couple of times, but he was a cool cat.

    RIP

  • June 16, 2008

    10:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    POINTOFVIEW writes:

    I am sorry for the family and friends of this young man. Assuming this was suicide, he must have been in a very dark place. By accident or suicide, he is gone, but there are more people who have been traumatized by this horrible incident...like the young woman sunbathing who could easily have been killed, or my son who was just 30 feet away. Please consider them in your prayers as well as they live with the shock and the sound and the unimaginable spectacle they witnessed.

  • June 17, 2008

    9:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    marcusstengel writes:

    Everyone needs to stop making their own damn biased opinions and shut up. I'm sorry for being rude, but Eddie was my best friend and I saw him 4 hours before this happened. Eddie wasn't horribly intoxicated to the point that it would have made him jump. I don't know the whole situation of why he was over there, but i do know who was over there, and it was very bizarre that he was there too. I'm almost positive that this wasn't suicide, and am pretty sure it wasn't an...accident. Eddie was pushed. And we would all appreciate it if people would stop talking about stuff that they don't know. thins that have been said are real messed up, and people need to stop talking about "railings" "intoxication" and being messed up in the head BECAUSE YOU DON"T KNOW ANYTHING! KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF!

  • June 17, 2008

    9:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    djmsvicious1 writes:

    Miss you already Mr. Eddie. Everytime I saw you my day was just a little bit brighter. Lost a friend and a fellow lover of music.

    <3 I was hoping for a bright future for you honey

  • June 18, 2008

    7:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    humm writes:

    marcusstengel if you were not there and you do not know who was there then how do you know he was pushed? I had a friend I saw just hours before on the lake and we were having an amazing day and there was not a sad or unhappy time. However, when we returned he took his life. So even though you were with him earlier that day and dont know what happen excatly STOP bashing on the ones who are expression their thoughts.

  • June 18, 2008

    10:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    applegirl28 writes:

    whether he jumped was pushed or just fell, it is a horrible accident and a terrible loss. i used to party with eddie all the time and he was such a wonderful person, always ready with a smile and a hug. for people who didn't know him and to judge, well it doesn't matter because his friends knew how he really was and that is why we loved him. we'll all miss you eddie b and i hope they have dance music wherever you are!

  • June 20, 2008

    8:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    v4vance writes:

    Eddie was on his way. We only spoke a short month ago while riding on the bus. We talked at length about him taking classes for Graphic Design. I always enjoyed running into him, whether it be at the club or just around town. I don't know the details around what happened, but it's a trajedy no less, and I feel blessed to have known him. It still hasn't quite sunk in. I miss your crazy face bro...