From Orlando Sentinel

Horseplay turned deadly for a 20-year-old student from Alabama who tried doing a handstand on an apartment balcony. Jessica Ashley Hawkins plummeted 15 feet and struck the ground headfirst Thursday evening near the University of Central Florida campus, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Stunned and complaining of a headache, the former UCF student asked two male friends for a ride to the hospital and gave them her parents' phone numbers. Instead of calling 911, the friends drove Hawkins in her own car from the apartments on Summerwalk Square to Winter Park Hospital. She lost consciousness on the way there, a sheriff's incident report stated. The Winter Park emergency room classified her head injuries as critical and transferred her to Orlando Regional Medical Center. She died at 11:35 p.m. after undergoing surgery, according to a sheriff's incident report. "This really is a tragedy," sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said. "Both of the young lady's friends were very, very distraught." The events leading to Hawkins' fall began about 5 p.m. Thursday with her plan to spend the evening listening to music and hanging out with longtime friends. She had returned to Orlando from Birmingham to see her boyfriend before starting classes at the University of Alabama later this summer, Solomons said. At some point, Hawkins mixed two rum-and-cokes and drank them, according to the sheriff's report. Later, she and one of her friends whom deputies did not identify went to a market and returned with a 12-pack of Corona beer, the report states. One of the young men, both of whom are students studying in Orlando, apparently teased Hawkins about wearing "pajamas." Feigning anger, she walked onto the balcony and forcefully slid the glass door shut behind her, the report states. Reaching over the railing, Hawkins grabbed the supporting posts and raised her feet above her head, but then she slipped and fell, the report states. "What this was was a gathering of friends. The investigation revealed nothing had gotten out of hand," Solomons said. "By all appearances, this is just a very, very tragic accident."

Obituary, also from Orlando Sentinel.

Jessica Ashley Hawkins, 20, of Winter Park, Fla., died Thursday, July 12, 2007. Visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, with memorial service immediately following, at John Ridout Funeral Home on Gadsden Highway in Birmingham, Ala., with the Rev. Brandon Carter officiating.

Miss Hawkins was a graduate of Shades Valley High School, Birmingham, Ala., and she attended UCF in Orlando for the last two years. She was active in theatre and performed in many productions in her high school. She was employed by Target in Orlando.

Jessica is survived by her mother and step-father, Mami and Larry Lee of Birmingham, Ala.; father Jeffrey Scott Hawkins of Ashburn; three brothers, Jeffrey Hawkins of Birmingham, Ala., Drew Hawkins of Tifton and Brandon Hawkins of Ashburn; sister Jaci Hawkins of Tifton; step-brother Kendrick Cruize Lee of Birmingham, Ala.; long-time boyfriend Nicholas Fuller of Birmingham, Ala.; grandparents Judy Bryan of Birmingham, Ala., Levon and Virginia Hawkins of Leesburg, Karlas and Sheila Bryan of Omega and James and Phyllis Oxendine of Duluth and great-grandmother, Margaret Carroll of Watkinsville. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jessie’s Place or The Ameila Center in Birmingham, Ala. Baldwin Fairchild-Goldenrod Chapel, Winter Park, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.

Submitted on 09/03/2007

Submitted by: Walter
Reference: Orlando Sentinel, July 14, 2007

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes
I wasn't particularly thrilled with this one, but it did make the slush pile and all this extra info can only help! Thanks, Walter!

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: For Darwin's Eyes

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