Ala. airport sign falls on Overland Park, KS family, killing 10-year-old boy

[proud2BlibKansan]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A sign at the Birmingham airport fell on an Overland Park 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. However, CNN tells 41 Action News that Birmingham Police confirmed the family is from Overland Park.

A family friend, who wishes not to be named, told 41 Action News the Bresettes were traveling on spring break. They had traveled to Florida and were on their way home.

Firefighters estimated the arrival-departure sign weighed 300 to 400 pounds


Read more: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/national/ala-airport-sign-falls-on-family-killing-boy#ixzz2OJvFXLcf

[NutmegYankee]

1. That is random and tragic!

That poor family

[Historic NY]

2. Mayor William Bell issued a statement saying the city offered its full support to

the Airport Authority in investigating the accident. What about the family of the dead boy.???..



Read more: http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/national/ala-airport-sign-falls-on-family-killing-boy#ixzz2OJxsWLQr

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Wow.

Just wow.

[mentalsolstice]

6. To be fair this is more of Mayor Bell's statement

"I have offered our full support to the Airport Authority as they investigate what has occurred this afternoon. I have asked our public safety staff to assist this family in their time of need in any way possible as they grapple with what has happened," said Birmingham Mayor William Bell.

He was on the morning news saying how horrible it was for parents to have to deal with the death of a child. The local FBI Citizens Academy has started a fund for the family, which Mayor Bell is very supportive of.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Across this country bridges and roads need repair. Very sad.

[bluedigger]

4. Isn't Birmingham the city that is going broke through Privatization?

Truly a tragic accident in that it was predictable and unprevented. Condolences to the boy's family.

[mentalsolstice]

7. Jefferson County is in bankruptcy, not the city. Nt

[MineralMan]

8. The thing was not properly anchored to the wall.

It was put up with only construction adhesive attaching it to the wall. It's a tall display system, about 6' high and about 18" deep. It wouldn't take much to tip something like that over.

I guarantee that the manufacturer's installation instructions included directions on how to secure it to the wall behind it, and that fastening points are included in the display system.

Hell, even my 32" flatscreen TV has instructions for wall mounting, and a screw hole on its base for attaching it securely to whatever it's sitting on. Big letters in the installation brochure declare the importance of proper mounting.

Some moron didn't follow the installation instructions and this heavy piece of equipment fell and killed a little boy. Someone needs to be fired, because he is going to cost that airport a lot of money in a lawsuit.

[txwhitedove]

9. So very sad for his family.

[JHB]

10. Possibly related discussion in this thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022558540

It's about what kind of jobs are temp work these days, and touches on the sign story by raising the question "who did they pay to put up the sign?"