Boy, 8, killed in table collapse at school

NEW MILFORD -- A folding table attached to a wall collapsed at a school during a recreational soccer practice, killing an 8-year-old boy preparing for his season opener, the school superintendent said.

The boy was a student in New Milford's Gibbs Elementary School, but the accident occurred at the district's Berkley Street Elementary School on Wednesday night.

School Superintendent Michael Polizzi told The Record (http://bit.ly/1tQN7uA ) newspaper that the table folds vertically into the wall and has benches attached to both sides. It is secured with a key.

The bench part struck the child, Polizzi said. It was not clear what caused the table to drop down, and Polizzi said he didn't know if it had been properly locked.

He said the tables have been in "good working condition," and the school has never had a problem with them since they were installed about 11 years ago.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned in 2012 of the potential safety risk of the tables, saying it had received reports of several deaths and injuries in schools when the tables tipped over. It warned that most accidents happened during afterschool or during nonschool activities and warned schools to not allow children to move the tables or play with them.

Polizzi declined to release the name of the student.

"It's a tremendous loss for all of us, a shock for the family especially," Polizzi said. "I can't imagine the void the family will feel.

John Bigger, the recreation director for New Milford, told The Record that the boy was a member of the borough's indoor soccer team and was with a group of six 7- and 8-year-old children practicing for their Sunday season opener. He said practices in the gym were suspended for a few days while it is inspected and he doesn't know if the team will play Sunday.

Grief counselors were made available at both schools.