A Binghamton University student remains at the Wilson Regional Medical Center in Johnson City after he fell from the Court Street bridge early Wednesday morning.
Michael Scarano, a 22-year-old senior mechanical engineering major, suffered serious internal and external injuries when he fell from construction scaffolding on the bridge and landed on rocks on the bank of the Chenango River, the Press & Sun-Bulletin reported Thursday.
Two friends walking with Scarano, Michael Sander and Gene Bernieri, were able to keep Scarano from possibly drowning after he rolled into the water.
According to the article, police were alerted to the incident at 1:23 a.m. Wednesday, and when they arrived on the scene, Scarano was on the southeast side of the bridge. As of Wednesday night, he was listed in serious condition Wednesday night. Hospital officials wouldn’t release any further details by press time.
In order to get to the scaffolding, Scarano, Sander and Bernieri had to climb over a barricade that has been in place on the bridge since construction started in early July.
All three were issued appearance tickets and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor.
Bernieri declined comment when phoned, citing the sensitive nature of Scarano’s condition and the trio’s pending appearance court appearances.
According to Lloyd Howe, BU’s dean of students, Scarano’s parents arrived in Binghamton on Thursday.
“I have visited both with him and his parents,” Howe said, although he wouldn’t give any information about Scarano’s current condition.
Howe added that Scarano was still enrolled in his classes at BU, but would not comment on how the injured student would progress toward the degree he is scheduled to receive in May.