A Huntington Beach police officer was killed and another injured after a police helicopter crashed into a beach on Saturday, terrifying onlookers enjoying a late evening visit.
As reported by local outlet KTLA 5 in the video above, Nicholas Vella, 44, died from his injuries after the helicopter crash-landed around 6:30 pm into the waters of Newport Beach, about 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. IT Police Chief Eric Parra of the Huntington Police Department confirmed Vella’s death at a press conference Saturday night and reported that his partner had been transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.
He is now in stable condition, but it remains unclear what initially caused the crash, and who was piloting the helicopter.
“The city of Huntington Beach, the residents of Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach Police Department and the law enforcement community have lost an officer who was truly dedicated to his job and was doing what he loved doing,” Parra said. “This is a difficult night for all of us and I would ask for your prayers and support as we support our officers’ families.”
During a procession held for Vella later that night in Santa Ana, the Huntington Beach Mayor spoke and shared her condolences. “This is truly a heartbreaking time for all of us here at Huntington Beach,” Mayor Barbara Delgleize said. “Our community values our police department, and the loss of an officer hits us all really hard. This tragic accident serves as a reminder of the danger, and the risks, our police officers put themselves in on a daily basis to protect our community.”
