A solemn procession was held for Huntington Beach police Officer Nicholas Vella, who died when the police helicopter he was in crashed into the ocean water off Newport Beach.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- A solemn procession was held Tuesday afternoon to honor Huntington Beach police Officer Nicholas Vella, who died when the police helicopter he was in crashed into the ocean water off Newport Beach.
The procession left the Orange County coroner's office in Santa Ana shortly after 1 p.m., as the hearse carrying Vella was escorted by dozens of motorcycle officers and other law enforcement vehicles. Police on the ground saluted as the procession slowly passed by. The HBPD helicopter crashed just after 6:30 p.m. Saturday while it was responding to a request for assistance from the Newport Beach Police Department involving a fight near 18th Street and Balboa Boulevard, authorities said.
Vella, 44, and another officer were pulled from the wreckage by emergency responders and bystanders. Vella, a 14-year veteran of the department, was pronounced dead at a hospital. The other officer, a 16-year veteran who was not identified, was treated and released from the hospital Sunday.
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