Huntington Beach police officer and helicopter pilot Nicholas Vella died on Saturday in a helicopter crash in Newport Beach, California. Vella succumbed to his injuries shortly after being rescued from the wreckage. The 44-year-old officer was a 14-year police veteran. Vellas is survived by his wife Kristi Tovar and their daughter. 

The crash took place on February 19, 2022, around 6:30 pm when Vella and his co-pilot were responding to a ‘disturbance fight call’ in Newport Beach. His co-pilot was rushed to a trauma center, according to New York Post.

“It is with tremendous sorrow that we announce the passing of Officer Nicholas Vella, a 14-year veteran of HBPD. Officer Vella died this evening after our police helicopter, HB-1, crashed into the waters off Newport while responding to a call for service. A second officer was injured and is in stable condition. Officer Vella leaves behind a wife and daughter. He served the community of Huntington Beach with honor and dignity. Please join us in extending prayers to Officer Vella’s family. We want to thank the community and our law enforcement partners for your support during this difficult time,” read a statement by the department on Facebook. 

Also Read: Washington easing COVID curbs, will lift indoor mask mandate on March 21

“The city of Huntington Beach, the residents of Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach Police Department, and the law enforcement community have lost an officer that was truly dedicated to his job. He was doing what he loved doing,” said Huntington Beach Police Department Chief Eric Parra in a press conference. 

Also Read: Eric Kay, former Los Angeles Angels employee, convicted in Tyler Skaggs’ overdose death

After being spotted between Lido Isle and Balboa Peninsula, the chopper crashed on the shore, with locals at the beach rushing to evacuate the passengers. 

“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 risk that our police officers put themselves in on a daily basis to protect our community,” said Huntington Beach Mayor Barbara Delgleize.