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Freak Accident at Ala. Airport Claims Life of 10-Year-Old Boy; Mom in Critical Condition
People hold up a message board sign that fell on a family killing a child and injuring the mother and two other children in the terminal at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 22, 2013. Credit: AP

Freak Accident at Ala. Airport Claims Life of 10-Year-Old Boy; Mom in Critical Condition

"It's hard to describe."

A maintenance worker sweeps up debris beside a message board sign that fell on a family killing a child and injuring the mother and two other children in the terminal at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 22, 2013. Credit: AP

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (TheBlaze/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 (https://bit.ly/XvWV7p ) 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.

It was a really tough thing to have to witness, Osorio said. "It's hard to describe," he added.

People hold up a message board sign that fell on a family killing a child and injuring the mother and two other children in the terminal at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 22, 2013. Credit: AP

Fire trucks line up outside the terminal at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., where a message board sign fell on a family killing one child and injuring the mother and two other children Friday, March 22, 2013. Credit: AP

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.

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