Los Angeles County officials held a series of briefings today on the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others. Bryant was 41.
The helicopter crashed into a hillside above Calabasas in foggy conditions just before 10 a.m. PT. L.A. County Fire Dept. Chief Daryl L. Osby said this afternoon that the fire department received a 911 call reporting the crash and subsequent brush fire at 9:47 a.m.
A total of 56 personnel, including paramedics and firefighters, responded to the crash site. Authorities did not release the names of the people on the helicopter.
However, multiple media outlets confirmed that Bryant and his daughter were among the victims.
Hours later, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa confirmed that baseball coach John Altobelli was among the victims.
The coach’s brother Tony Altobelli, who is the sports director at OCC, told CNN that Altobelli’s wife Keri Altobelli and daughter Alyssa, a 13-year-old basketball player at Bryant’s Mamba Academy, also died in the crash.
The helicopter company released the following statement:
“We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by today’s Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California. We have been in contact with the NTSB and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer.”- PUNCH
