Coralie Carlson

9-Year-Old Boy Killed by Goal Post at NYC High School: NYPD

A 9-year-old boy died Sunday when a goal post at a midtown high school collapsed, police said.

Tommaso Cerase, of the Upper West Side, was participating in a children's program playing soccer at the high school on West 50th Street, police said. 

The details of what happened were under investigation, but police said how and why the goal post collapsed is part of their investigation. It wasn't clear whether Tommaso was hanging on it or ran into it when it collapsed.  

Someone called 911 and officers found him unconscious with severe head trauma, police said. 

He was brought to Roosevelt hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. 

"Today our dearest son Tommaso passed away in an unfortunate incident at his soccer practice," his family said in a statement. "He was full of life and joy."

The Medical Examiner will determine his cause of death and the investigation is ongoing, police said. 

Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina said, "This tragic incident is heartbreaking and our thoughts are with this student's family and school community during this devastating time."

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