Two Americans killed in Nice attack

Two Americans were among those killed in the Nice, France, truck attack on Thursday, a State Department spokesman announced Friday.

.@statedeptspox: We can confirm two U.S. citizens were killed in #NiceAttack. We express condolences to family and friends of those killed.

— Department of State (@StateDept) July 15, 2016

The Americans were identified by news outlets as Sean Copeland, 52, and his 11-year-old son, Brodie.

PHOTO: Lakeway residents Sean Copeland, 51, and Brodie, 11, died in #NiceAttack Thursday: https://t.co/2E4bAj0dJb pic.twitter.com/4mTmAR6Thv

— KVUE News (@KVUE) July 15, 2016

The two Austin, Texas, residents were reportedly vacationing in the French seaside town to celebrate a birthday, according to local news station WFTV.

Sean’s niece Hayley Copeland announced the deaths in a Facebook post early Friday.

“This is an extremely difficult time for my family,” she wrote. “Losing a loved one is hard no matter the circumstances but losing a loved one in such a tragic and unexpected way is unbearable. Prayers are much appreciated.”

At least 84 people were killed when a man driving a heavy truck plowed through crowds that had gathered to celebrate Bastille Day. Police eventually shot and killed the man, who has since been identified as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhel, a 31-year-old Nice resident born in Tunisia.