Falling goal post kills boy, 8, at YMCA
by The Arizona Republic on May. 03, 2008, under Local, SpecialAn 8-year-old boy died after being hit with a falling goal post during his soccer game Thursday.
Gabriel Mendoza was playing goalie at the South Mountain YMCA near Central Avenue and Baseline Road around 6 p.m. when he was hit. Phoenix police said he was playing on the crossbar of the soccer goal, which then fell on him. He was at the soccer game with his grandmother, a YMCA spokeswoman said.
Phoenix Fire Department responded and transported him in critical condition to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, where he died.
The YMCA is still interviewing its staff and witnesses to determine what exactly happened, a YMCA spokeswoman said.
Phoenix police is conducting an accidental death investigation.
