A Huntington Beach (CA) Police Department helicopter crashed of Newport Beach Saturday around 6:30 p.m., killing one officer and injuring another.
Officer Nicholas Vella, 44, was killed in the crash. The second officer, who has not been identified by authorities, was released from the hospital Sunday.
Officer Officer Nicholas Vella, 44, of the Huntington Beach (CA) Police Department was killed in a helicopter crash Saturday. (Photo: Huntington Beach PD)
CBS Los Angeles says the Huntington Beach PD helicopter was assisting Newport Beach police with a call about a fight when it crashed.
A witness at the scene detailed how several civilian boats rushed to the scene of the wreckage in an attempt to assist the officers who were trapped onboard the aircraft. Footage from the scene also showed beachgoers and officers on hand working to open the helicopter doors and rescue the officers.
The National Transportation Safety Board is the lead agency investigating the accident, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Reconstruction Team will be conducting its own investigation, KTLA reports.
