A freak accident at an airport in Alabama has killed a boy, 10, and critically injured his mother.
Police say a large heavy flight information sign at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama fell on the family Friday afternoon, crushing them.
The boy, Luke Bresette, was pronounced dead at the hospital, Deputy Coroner Derrick Perryman said.
HIs mother, Heather Bresette, was taken to University Hospital, where hospital spokeswoman Nicole Wyatt said she was in critical condition, AP reported.
Her two other children were also injured and remained in hospital.
Witness Albert Osorio said the 300-plus pound sign toppled without warning, reported Al.com.
“The whole thing flipped down on those kids. It took all of us here to stand it back up. Everybody started screaming,” he said.
An AL.com journalist who was on the scene saw the collapse occur near the Southwest ticket counter.
The reporter said it happened in the newly-renovated portion of the airport, the first phase of which was only reopened last week.
Airport spokeswoman Toni Herrera-Bast said investigations are continuing into how the sign fell.
She confirmed it happened at 1.30 p.m. Friday in a pre-security area of the airport.
This article originally was published in Global Post.