Los Angeles, Ca
Helicopter landing shuts down traffic on 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles
Freeway lanes were shut down after a helicopter made an emergency landing in South Los Angeles Thursday night.
The helicopter touched down on the southbound lanes of the 110 Freeway, just north of the 105 Freeway interchange at around 8:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
Three people, including the pilot, were aboard the small chopper when it made the emergency landing. They were able to exit the aircraft without injuries, authorities said.
The aircraft, a 2011 Robinson R44 II, took off from the Hawthorne Airport at 7:35 p.m.
The pilot, Bruce Kafil, told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo he was taking a couple on an aerial tour of the city when they suddenly experienced power loss.
“I instructed my passengers to get out right away because I feared a possible collision from oncoming traffic,” Kafil recalled. “I had [the couple] go as far south as we reasonably could but the main rotor blade was still spinning and it made contact with a bus.”
A SigAlert that shut down all southbound lanes of the 110 Freeway was later lifted.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene and worked to remove the downed helicopter. At least one of the helicopter’s blades appeared damaged.
Crews were seen lifting the chopper with a crane and placing it onto the flatbed of a tow truck.
“There were motorists on the road at the time of the incident,” said CHP officer Bobby Eurin. “Officers did respond swiftly to stop traffic to avoid a major injury collision. It’s not every day that you see a helicopter land on the freeway.”
“We landed safely,” Kafil said with relief. “Everybody walked away. I’m very happy to be alive and to have my passengers as well.”
No injuries were reported from the incident. Traffic was backed up for miles as authorities worked to clear the scene.
Los Angeles, Ca
Fort Irwin soldier allegedly murdered comrade
A soldier from Fontana has been charged with murder in the death of another soldier at Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County.
Spc. George Cornejo, 26, is accused of killing Spc. Andrew P. Smith on Oct. 28, military officials said in a press release.
Smith, 27, was found injured in his residence that day and later succumbed to his wounds, officials said when announcing his death. The Rye, New York, native had been stationed at Fort Irwin for more than two years.
The manner and possible motivation for the alleged murder were not released.
Cornejo has been in pre-trial custody since Oct. 29, and he’s expected to be transferred to the Naval Consolidated Brig in Miramar.
A preliminary hearing will be held to determine if Cornejo will be tried by court-martial.
Los Angeles, Ca
Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor
Two people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle they were inside plunged into the harbor Sunday night in Marina Del Rey, officials confirmed to KTLA.
Details are limited and It’s unclear exactly how the incident occurred, but authorities with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 4675 Admiralty Way just after 6 p.m. on reports of the vehicle in the water.
L.A. County Fire Department Public Information Officer Marco Rodriguez said the two occupants were able to get themselves out of the vehicle after it went into the water.
Both were examined by medical personnel with the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.
Rodriguez said that two L.A. County Lifeguard divers were deployed to ensure there were no other occupants trapped in the vehicle.
A witness, Johnny Hamcheck, told KTLA that a third person, a woman, exited the vehicle before it went into water, though officials did not confirm that detail.
Footage of the recovery effort showed crews attaching large yellow floating devices to the vehicle as it was anchored to a crane and eventually pulled out of the water and loaded onto a tow truck.
The vehicle showed heavy front-end damage, presumably from crashing through the steel railing and into the water.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no further details were provided.
Los Angeles, Ca
Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street
Two people were hospitalized after a broad daylight armed robbery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Sunday, police confirmed to KTLA.
Officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, at the intersection of Brighton Way just before 1:30 p.m. on reports of the incident.
According to a BHPD news release, a man and a woman were waiting outside a boutique when they were approached by four suspects, one of whom pulled out a gun during a physical altercation between the victims and the suspects.
“During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags – one from each victim – containing cash and cellphones,” police said. “One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”
In video of a portion of the incident obtained by KTLA, four suspects all wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts can be seen running from the scene. At least one of the suspects has an item, possibly one of the handbags, in his hands.
The crew was last seen running up Rodeo Drive and ducking into an alleyway.
It is unclear if anyone was injured, but the male victim was seen on the ground as the victim and another person knelt over him, one of which was yelling for help.
Medical personnel with the Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to the incident, but authorities said the man and woman sought their own medical attention at a local hospital.
Their conditions were not immediately available.
An investigation into the robbery remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact BHPD at 310-285-2125. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.com.
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