California rescuers have recovered the bodies of all nine victims
from the scene of the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe
Bryant, the coroner’s office confirmed Tuesday.
Three bodies were first retrieved from the scattered wreckage on
Sunday, the day of the crash. On Monday, the remaining six were located
as the search resumed.
In a statement, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said the
remains were ‘removed from the crash site and transported to the
department’s forensic science center’ for examination and
identification.
NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, 41, was traveling with his 13-year-old
daughter Gianna to his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks where his
daughter was set to play.The pair died with seven others when the Sikorsky S-76 crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, northwest of Los Angeles.
Also killed were John Altobelli, 56, longtime head coach of Southern
California’s Orange Coast College baseball team; his wife, Keri; and
daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same basketball team as Bryant’s
daughter.
Christina Mauser, a girls’ basketball coach at a Southern California
elementary school also lost her life. Another young player, Payton
Chester, was also killed in the crash along with her mother Sarah
Chester.
The pilot, Ara Zobayan, 50, was the ninth victim.
The Investigators are expected to remain at the site of the crash
throughout the week to collect evidence, with hope to find clues as to
what caused the helicopter crash.