November 3, 2008 Mother dies trying to save son from fire in Lawrence, MA

LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) - Authorities say a mother and her son died in a house fire in Lawrence after the mother went back in to rescue her special needs son.

Police Chief John Romero says the fire broke out just after midnight on Monday.

The parents escaped, but the mother went back inside to rescue her 20-year-old son who was trapped in his room.

Firefighters pulled two unconscious people from the burning home, but they were pronounced dead at a hospital.

Romero tells the Eagle-Tribune that the victims have been identified as 51-year-old Linda Cahalane and her son, Sean.

The state Fire Marshal is investigating. There was no immediate word on a cause, but the fire is thought to have started in the kitchen.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)