Gaskin, 20, was killed when her head struck several mailboxes as she leaned out the window of a moving pickup truck, the driver told police. She was pronounced dead at Northside Hospital about 1 a.m. after being taken to the emergency room by driver Karl Norman Jeckel, 24, of Clearwater.

Pinellas Park police are investigating the incident as a possible DUI and are consulting with the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, Capt. Sanfield Forseth said. Blood and urine samples were taken from Jeckel.

Jeckel said the woman "was just hanging out the window, had her head out having fun and didn't see the mailboxes."

Her mother found the story credible.

"I know how my daughter is," Valerie Gaskin said. "She did what she wanted to do. She was spontaneous. I can see her doing that. I can see it being a total accident."

"(Angela) was playing a Nintendo game, then she threw her head out the window" at the 4600 block of Lake Boulevard, Valerie Gaskin said, recalling Jeckel's account.

Jeckel said he then "heard a thump-thump-thump," she added.

Blood alcohol tests show that both the driver and the victim were legally intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Submitted on 08/10/2009

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: St. Petersburg Times, July 15, 2009: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/article1018

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Although we've had a few similar stories I think this one is unique enough to accept. How and why does somebody go from playing a video game to suddenly sticking your head out of a car like a dog would? Thanks for the submission.

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
while people get hurt/killed leaning out of vehicles all the time, this one moves to the head of the pack. Firstly, a video game and THEN lean out the window? This gal had a VERY short attention span. Finally, she took out not one but THREE mailboxes with her noggin! OUCH!

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