Child Killed by Freak Accident at Airport

Tragedy struck a family returning from a vacation on Friday, leaving one boy dead and three others injured.

The NY Daily News reports that the Bresette family was flying home from a vacation in Destin Beach, Florida, and had a layover at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport on their way back to Kansas. In a bizarre accident, the family was crushed by a more than 300-pound electronic arrivals and departures display board that suddenly fell on top of them.

Luke Bresette, a 10-year old boy, was pronounced dead at the hospital after being hit by the sign. Two other brothers, Sam (8) and Tyler (5), were treated at the hospital but are in good condition. The boys’ mother, Heather Bresette, is in serious condition at the hospital, and reportedly suffered two broken ankles and a fractured pelvis.

Albert Osorio, an eyewitness witness, told AL.com, “The whole thing flipped down on those kids. It took all of us here to stand it back up. Everybody started screaming.” Osorio also stated that it took himself and five others to lift the sign off of the victims. He also said that the sign appeared to be attached to the wall “only with liquid nails” (a hot glue-type substance, rather than bolted to the wall). A similar flight display board has been removed following the incident.

The airport re-opened two concourses just a few weeks ago, following a more than $200 million renovation. Officials are investigating the cause of the accident, and the airport remains open.

A local fund has been started for the Bresette family by the FBI-Birmingham Citizens Academy Alumni Association, and donations can be made at any Cadence Bank branch location.

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