NEED TO KNOW
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Five people have been hospitalized after a helicopter crashed in Southern California, and video footage shows the aircraft wedged between a palm tree and a building
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Police in Huntington Beach said that the aircraft crashed just after 2 p.m. local time on Oct. 11
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Two people were removed from the wreckage of the crash, and three people on the ground were injured, per police
Five people have been hospitalized after a helicopter crashed in Southern California, and video footage shows the aircraft wedged between a tree and a building.
According to the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD), the aircraft crashed just after 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 11, near the city’s Twin Dolphins Drive and Beach Boulevard.
Police said in a statement shared on Facebook that two people aboard the helicopter were safely pulled from the wreckage, while three people on the ground were injured in the crash. All five people involved in the incident were hospitalized. Authorities did not share the severity of their injuries.
Video footage captured by a beachgoer that was posted on social media showed the helicopter flying at a low altitude over the beach. The aircraft eventually spun to the ground before crashing near the 21500 block of Pacific Coast Highway, hitting palm trees on its way down.
citizen.com
Footage of the helicopter crash site shared on social media.
In another video posted on the app Citizen, the helicopter could be seen stuck between a Hyatt Regency Hotel and a palm tree, per ABC 7 Los Angeles.
Police said that first responders, including firefighters, were still at the scene as of 4:50 p.m., and a portion of Pacific Coast Highway was temporarily closed.
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Authorities are not sure what caused the crash.
According to authorities, the helicopter involved in the crash is associated with a public beach event, Cars ‘N Copters on the Coast, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12.
The event’s website states it is “Southern California’s premier automotive and helicopter experience” that supports the Huntington Beach Police and Community Foundation. Local families can attend the free event to see sports cars up close and join a helicopter landing watch party.
Event organizers did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Police said that the FAA and NTSB have been notified of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
Read the original article on People
