Boy killed when garage door falls on his neck

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 17, 2008 at 3:57 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2008 at 3:57 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Police say a 13-year-old Indianapolis boy died when a board used to prop open a garage door gave way and the door came down on his neck.

A police spokesman said Terry Lee Barnett was tinkering with an electric car when the two-by-four dislodged about 11 a.m. Thursday and he became pinned under the door.

Sgt. Paul Thompson says Barnett was trapped for as long as 15 minutes before a relative found him on the floor of the family's garage on the city's west side.

Barnett was taken to Riley Hospital for Children and pronounced dead a short time later.

Thompson says the door had no spring mechanism and relatives told investigators it was prone to falling.

Saturday, Jul 19 at 11:05 PM Common Sense wrote ...

Negligence. As father of a 12 year old, there's no way I would prop up a broken garage door and let kids play around it. Indystar.com reported the mother described her son as "mildly mentally handicapped". To Julie and all the unavoidable accident supporters out there - consider not having kids.

Saturday, Jul 19 at 10:13 PM Soft hearted, not soft headed- wrote ...

When I think of that poor boy trapped there and suffering to his death- alone, I find it hard to stomach the insensitivity of anyone on here defending the parent's negligence as if it is just normal. Sure, sometimes accidents happen, but a decent parent will constantly look for things that could go wrong and take steps to correct them before a tragedy occurs. These people actually went out of their way to set up a tragedy-like some of you seem so proud of doing yourselves. For God's sake, think.

Saturday, Jul 19 at 9:38 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Listen is dead on right. This was NOT an accident. This happened because someone messed up. It's called negligence. The door should not have been propped up except to move the car. Park the car at the curb or in the driveway. Whether or not the parent(s) have to live with this is not relevant. Their neglect caused a death. To all of the excuse makers, if this was your child and this happened at the neighbor's, you would hire an attorney and file a lawsuit so fast it would take your breath away.

Saturday, Jul 19 at 7:43 PM Connie wrote ...

Listen was absolutely right. This was just plain, careless, self-centered, don't-give-a-crap neglect. Shame on those people for creating a dangerous situation. How many of you fools disgusted with Listen are guilty of the same moronic thing RIGHT NOW? Shame on you if you are- AND GET OFF YOUR BUNS AND CHANGE IT! We had a heavy, loose door, for ten years, but I never for a moment considered deliberately turning it into a death trap. But then, I'm a real parent and think of my kids.

Saturday, Jul 19 at 1:06 PM tom branstetter wrote ...

It's a shame that stuff like this happens, and i guess having to live with this the rest of thier lives is bad enough for the parents.

Saturday, Jul 19 at 7:29 AM frog wrote ...

The thing that gets me is the last sentence. "realitives told investigators it was prone to falling". To me, that says it all right there.

Friday, Jul 18 at 8:28 PM TW wrote ...

I've been reading the comments about if they could have afforded a garage door opener this would not have happen, thats not true not all garage door openers will keep a door from falling with broken springs, so please get your facts straight. And yes maybe this could have been prevented with proper garage door safety programs, which I have been doing one for years, and yes it has made a difference just like fire prevention week does.

Friday, Jul 18 at 8:23 PM Concerned Person wrote ...

You may call it a accident or neglect, but people do not realize garage doors are the biggest moving object of a home, and yes this could have been prevented never should a garage door be proped open. I have been training kids for five years on garage door safety.I've been trying to go national with this but getting mfg support is tuff.Maybe if I had their support this would have not happened.My heart goes out to the family.

Friday, Jul 18 at 8:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

The parents may not have been evil, but it was dumb to leave a garage door with a broken spring that was known to drop propped up with a 2 by 4. I never would have believed people really do that except to take a pic. and put it on the internet for laughs. Propping it open temporarily to get in and out is one thing. Propping it up like that and leaving it... wow. That's Cletus the slack jawed yokel territory.

Friday, Jul 18 at 6:24 PM cha wrote ...

to listen: i agree that no one can be watch 24/7. if my parents watch us as teens 24/7 we wouldnt have been riding our bikes off the garage roof now would we. sometme kids need the freedom to do what they want. that is how they realize right and wrong and to make good choices. some choices r bad and some r good his was not good wich became an accident. i feel for the family dont know what i would do if i lost my child

Friday, Jul 18 at 4:25 PM Bob wrote ...

You are wacko. This meets the definition of negligence. Ask yourself this question: If this happened at a school and a child was killed, would people be saying this is an accident OR would they be saying the school is liable and should have known that the door was dangerous?

Friday, Jul 18 at 4:18 PM Momof4 wrote ...

Listen wrote: "Do SOMETHING PERMANENT to hold the door all the way down" OK Listen, what would have happened if the house caught on fire and the garage was the only way out? Then what? Would you be on here claiming the mother was negligent because she tried to prevent the door from falling? My son broke his arm riding a bike, should I have not given him a bike for his birthday? Point is...no matter how hard you try as a parent, ACCIDENTS can and do happen! My condolences to the family.

Friday, Jul 18 at 3:55 PM Buddy wrote ...

To Listen, I have had the springs that hold my door open break, when they did guess what happened? It came down, nobody was under it at the time but it came down none the less, I used a board to hold it open until it got repaired because I still had to open and use it eveyday.

Friday, Jul 18 at 3:39 PM Kit Kat wrote ...

Listen: you could have made you point without being rude and unkind - The ghetto comment was an unnecessary remark. Shame on you.

Friday, Jul 18 at 3:13 PM Julie wrote ...

To Listen: 1st I'd like to say you're an insensitive moron. If you had a 13 year old you wouldn't follow him around 24/7 watching his every move. And maybe you're unaware of this but teens, especially boys, seem to think they are invincible & that dangers don't apply to them. The fact is it was an ACCIDENT, no one's "fault". You could child proof everything from here to China & accidents would still happen. This family needs sympathy not your insensitive stupidity.

Friday, Jul 18 at 1:50 PM Lindy wrote ...

Listen: He is 13 years old. A teenager. Certainly not young enough to have mom or dad standing over him at that age. It was purely an accident. That's why they are called accidents. Kids sometimes do dumb things. Sadly, he lost his life but nonetheless, it was an accident period! No one can be standing next to their 13 year old 24/7. What if he fell off the monkey bars at school and died. Would you blame the monkey bars. No you wouldn't. Why..because it woud have been an accident.

Friday, Jul 18 at 1:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

A) I have children. B) I'm going to prop open this loose garage door with a 2 by 4. C) People should not put me in charge of anything.

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:39 PM Listen wrote ...

So yes, I still believe that this is a tragic, and senseless loss of life, especially since it was completely preventable. That's why I said my feelings in a direct manner. I WANT parents who read this to stop and think. What they think of me is really on no concern to me. Maybe some more accidents will be prevented if parents imagine losing their child this way. Good. That's the way they SHOULD be thinking.

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:35 PM Listen wrote ...

I'm not talking about buying an opener, or even paying for a fully repaired "perfectly working" door. IM TALKING ABOUT COMMON SENSE. A 'SENSE' THAT BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO CHILDREN if I, the parent, don't see danger FOR THEM. They're KIDS for Cripesakes. I'm talking about the Parent(s) KNOWING the door was broken. A stupid 2x4 can become dislodged... Do SOMETHING PERMANENT to hold the door all the way down, or up, in a manner that it CANNOT EVER MOVE!! BECAUSE IT'S BROKEN AND DANGEROUS! Hello!!

Friday, Jul 18 at 11:47 AM Linda wrote ...

Amen Tim!! Accidents happen in the snap of a finger. Before you can even give it a thought, it's happened. What is negligent about it? He was 13 years old. Did what most boys would do, have done and probably will continue to do. Go to the garage and mess around. It is sad and tragic but negligent. No way!

Friday, Jul 18 at 10:20 AM Mz V wrote ...

I agree with Tim, Listen needs to keep their comments to themselves. Everyone can't afford a garage door opener. I have seen 2x4's holding doors up before. Yes, it was and accident that I am sure the parents are living with minute to minute. We all have our day that will come that we will have to leave this earth and just maybe God had it planned that this little guy did not have to stay around this cruel world to meet people like Listen. I am praying for the family.

Friday, Jul 18 at 9:03 AM Tim wrote ...

'Listen' not everyone can afford a 2 stall garage with a garage door opener. Growing up we had a 2x4 holding up our garage door. It was all my single mother of 2 kids could afford. The 2x4 was given to us. It was an accident. You can child proof the entire world... and people have to die. Honestly, not to be mean, but people have been dying since the beginning of man. Some even of accidents. It was a tragedy. Nothing more!

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:30 AM Listen wrote ...

Parents: Ya need to always be looking at things from the point of 'worst case scenario'. Seriously, a 2x4 to prop open a garage door??? Thats just plain STUPID-Ghetto. I'm assuming that the mechanism or spring counterbalance was somehow broken, which explains why the lad was pinned to death. Those un-sprung doors have tremendous dead weight. No excuse for this death. Don't call it an 'accident'... it's stupid negligence, plain and simple.

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:25 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I am so sorry for your loss! This is so sad, poor lil guy. wish this could have been prevented. you just dont think of stuff like this happeni9ng till you read about it happening to someone else.

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