BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A sign at the Birmingham airport fell on a family Friday, killing a 10-year boy and injuring other family members.
Deputy Coroner Derrick Perryman said 10-year-old Luke Bresette was pronounced dead at Children’s of Alabama. Two other children were being treated there, and the mother, Heather Bresette, was taken to University Hospital, where spokeswoman Nicole Wyatt said she was in critical condition. The coroner’s office and the hospital did not disclose the family’s hometown.
Firefighters estimated the arrival-departure sign weighed 300 to 400 pounds.
Albert Osorio, 46, of Birmingham told al.com that he was close by when the sign fell. He said a loud boom was followed by screams from the family and witnesses. Then he and five other passers-by lifted off the sign.
“The whole thing flipped down on those kids. It took all of us here to stand it up,” he said.
Airport spokeswoman Toni Herrera-Bast said officials aren’t sure how the sign fell. She said it happened about 1:30 p.m. Friday in a pre-security area of the airport. The airport continued operating while rescue workers tended to the family.
The airport completed the first phase of a more than $201 million modernization effort and opened newly renovated concourses last week.
Mayor William Bell issued a statement saying the city offered its full support to the Airport Authority in investigating the accident.
Omg!
Very sad.. I cannot even imagine!
So sad
Wow talk about a depressing news day.
Shoddy construction.
That’s so sad can’t even trust a airports sign whoever did the work is in big troubles rip to the victims family
how awful, someone did not do there job right
Wow, talk about a freak accident. However I doubt that it was because “someone did not do their* job right” it was just a freak accident like I said. Stuff like that just happens sometimes.
RIP little one. I hope those who were also injured make a full recovery.
How sad. My thoughts and prayers are with that family tonight.
That’s not a freak accident-that’s negligence! So very sad.
“Freak accident” ??? NO. Someone who is supposedly a professional renovated the place a week ago and a sign fell? Thats definitely negligence. R.I.P. little guy </3
I agree with Kimberly if the place was JUST renovated a week ago there’s no excuse for improper support of 300 lb signage. NEGLIGENCE.
R.I.P. Little Guy <3
Whatever mechanism that was being used to hold up the sign could have been faulty without anyone knowing it and even being installed right it would have fallen. We don’t know all the details, I’m just saying there’s a damn good chance it wasn’t because someone wasn’t doing their job. It could have just as easily just been a freak accident. Everyone is always so quick to blame and judge, some are like a damn lynch mob. I get sick of seeing so much negativity when people don’t even know the whole story.
R.I.P baby boy what a tragedy so sad. All these airport better check there signs now. Makes you only wonder how safe are they hanging up there.