🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 31 (from laksa026)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa031.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.vaildaily.com/news/retired-nba-star-kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.vaildaily.com/news/retired-nba-star-kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/retired-nba-star-kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash\/","crawl_time":1775872320,"first_indexed_time":0,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,vaildaily!www,\/news\/retired-nba-star-kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash\/ s443","src_root_hash":"4787490606194795031","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash | VailDaily.com","meta_descriptions":["In July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony following an encounter with 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday. Bryant’s sudden death at age 41 touched off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.\nThe chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.\nBryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said.\nAlso killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant’s daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school.\nLos Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner.\n“God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference.\nSports world in shock\nNews of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish.\n“Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. “We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.”\nNBA players were in tears during pregame warmups as crowds chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” Tiger Woods was unaware of the news during his final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego when he started hearing the gallery yell “Do it for Mamba,” referring to Bryant by his nickname.\nPeople were glued to their phones and TV screens all around the world as news of the crash spread and networks broke into programming with live coverage. A visibly shaken LeBron James wiped his eyes with tissues and walked away alone from the Lakers plane that had just landed in Southern California.\nThousands of people gathered to mourn Bryant outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where there is a statue of the retired Lakers legend. Mourners in No. 24 jerseys mixed with those in fancy dress arriving at the downtown arena for Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards.\nPeople carried flowers and chanted “Kobe!” and “MVP!” under giant video screens showing Bryant’s smiling face.\n“This is where we needed to be,” said Naveen Cheerath, 31.\nLegal saga in Eagle County\nIn July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail. He said the two had consensual sex.\nProsecutors dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant 14 months later at the request of the accuser after she refused to testify in court. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court in March 2005.\nLos Angeles Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant, Defense Attorney Pamela Mackey, left, and a member of his security leave the Eagle County Justice Center on April 28, 2004, after the final day of three pretrial motion hearings.\nDaily file photo\n“The victim has informed us … that she does not want to proceed with this trial,” Distrtict Attorney Mark Hurlbert told reporters on Sept. 1, 2004, after the case was dismissed. “For this reason, and this reason only, the case is being dismissed.”\nWhen the story broke, national and international media descended on Eagle, with television trucks setting up camp in the parking lot of the Eagle County Justice Center.\nAfter District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle dismissed the case, most of the media cleared out quickly, headed for Los Angeles and the Michael Jackson trial.\nAmong the greatest ever\nBryant \nretired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history\n, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific shot-maker with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.\n“Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.”\nBryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.\nHe teamed with O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.\n“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through,” O’Neal tweeted. Sunday. “(at)kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. … IM SICK RIGHT NOW.”\nBryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.\nBryant’s death was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where he was unquestionably the most popular athlete and one of the city’s most beloved public figures. Hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image.\n“Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.\nPresident Donald Trump tweeted condolences to Bryant’s family, saying that “despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, (Bryant) was just getting started in life.”\nThe cause of the crash was unknown. Authorities earlier said five people were killed before raising the death toll to nine.\nThe National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team of investigators to the site. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days that will give a rough summary of what investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause can take a year or more.\nColin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard what sounded to him like a low-flying airplane or helicopter.\n“Ït was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.”\nThe fog cleared a bit, and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home.\nJuan Bonilla of Calabasas said he was working on his roof Sunday morning when he heard a helicopter flying low nearby. He said he thought it was a sheriff’s helicopter on a training mission. He heard nothing amiss with the engine or rotors and said he did not see any mechanical issue with the chopper. It was foggy Sunday morning, but he said visibility didn’t seem to be low at the time of the crash.\nFirefighters hiked in with medical equipment and hoses, and medical personnel rappelled to the site from a helicopter, but found no survivors, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said.\nFirefighters worked to douse flames that spread through about a quarter acre (.10 hectares) of dry brush, Osby said.\nFederal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the downed chopper was a Sikorsky S-76.\nAmong other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history, and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.\n“The S-76 is a pretty expensive, sophisticated helicopter. … It’s certainly a quality helicopter,” said Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps.\nGreen believes weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in bad weather, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside.\nAlong with his work boosting women’s sports, Bryant opened a production company and entered the entertainment field in retirement. He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN.\n___\nRandy Wyrick and Nate Peterson of the Vail Daily and Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, David Koenig in Dallas, Mark J. Terrill and John Antczak in Calabasas, AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami, and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=664946818073934&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=882545006648732&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=356889104458573&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n[**Breaking News** -](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/retired-nba-star-kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash\/)\n\n[![VailDaily.com Logo](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/11104148\/vail-daily-logo.png)](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/)\n\nVail, Beaver Creek and Eagle Valley, Colorado News\n\n- [News](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/)\n  - [Business](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/business\/)\n  - [Health](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/health\/)\n  - [Eagle Valley](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/eagle-valley\/)\n  - 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[Health](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/health\/)\n- [Eagle Valley](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/eagle-valley\/)\n- [Crime and Public Safety](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/crime\/)\n- [Government and Politics](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/government\/)\n- [Obituaries](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/obituaries\/)\n\n- [Celebrations](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/celebrations\/)\n- [Vida Latina](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/vail-vida-latina\/)\n- [Transportation and Traffic](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/transportation-and-traffic\/)\n- [Weather](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/weather\/)\n- [Wolves](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/wolves\/)\n\n## [Opinion](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/opinion\/)\n- [Columns](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/opinion\/columns\/)\n- [Editorials](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/opinion\/editorial\/)\n\n- [Letters to the Editor](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/opinion\/letter-to-the-editor\/)\n\n## [Events Calendar](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/calendar\/)\n- [Submit an Event](https:\/\/hub.cityspark.com\/event\/submission\/VailDaily?utm_medium=internal&utm_source=portal&utm_campaign=portal-ev-add)\n- [Vail Community Calendar](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/calendar\/community\/)\n- [Vail Entertainment Calendar](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/calendar\/entertainment\/)\n\n- [Vail Sports Calendar](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/calendar\/sports\/)\n- [Vail Youth Calendar](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/calendar\/youth\/)\n\n## [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/entertainment\/)\n- [Food & Drink](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/food-drink\/)\n- [Lodging & Activities](https:\/\/www.visitvailvalley.com\/)\n\n- [Best of Vail Valley](https:\/\/www.bestofvailvalley.com\/)\n\n## [Sports & Outdoors](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/sports-outdoors\/)\n- [Outdoors and Recreation](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/outdoors-recreation\/)\n- [Mikaela Shiffrin](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/sports-outdoors\/mikaela-shiffrin\/)\n\n- [High School Sports](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/sports-outdoors\/high-school-sports\/)\n- [World Cup FIS Skiing and Snowboarding](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/sports-outdoors\/world-cup-fis-skiing-and-snowboarding\/)\n## [Real Estate and Housing](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/real-estate\/)\n## [In Depth](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/retired-nba-star-kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash\/)\n- [The Longevity Project](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/longevity\/)\n- [Shining Through](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/shining-through\/)\n\n- [Home Economics](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/home-economics\/)\n- [Vail Daily 40th](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/vail-daily-40th\/)\n## [Magazines](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/magazines\/)\n## [Summer Camps](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/summercamps\/)\n## [Classifieds](https:\/\/classifieds.cmnm.org\/)\n- [Jobs](http:\/\/www.coloradomountainjobs.com\/)\n- [Rentals](https:\/\/classifieds.cmnm.org\/marketplace\/cmnm\/category\/Rentals)\n- [Real Estate](https:\/\/classifieds.cmnm.org\/marketplace\/cmnm\/category\/Real%20Estate)\n- [Autos](https:\/\/classifieds.cmnm.org\/marketplace\/cmnm\/category\/Transportation)\n- [Service Directory](https:\/\/classifieds.cmnm.org\/marketplace\/cmnm\/category\/Service%20Directory)\n\n- [All Classifieds](https:\/\/classifieds.cmnm.org\/marketplace\/cmnm\/)\n- [Place an ad](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/place-class\/)\n- [Place Legal Ad](http:\/\/vaildaily.column.us\/place)\n- [Search Legal Ads](https:\/\/vaildaily.column.us\/search)\n## [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/newsletter-subscriptions\/)\n***\n- [Donate](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/donate\/)\n\n- [E-Edition](https:\/\/edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk\/html5\/reader\/production\/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=40b4514b-010b-403b-afbb-0ba1cd8007a5)\\|\n- [Submissions](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/submissions\/)\\|\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/submissions\/advertise-with-us\/)\\|\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/contact-us\/)\\|\n\n[YOUR AD HERE »](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/your-ad-here\/ \"Your Ad Here\")\n\n# Retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash\n#### Basketball legend, whose legal case brought international spotlight to Eagle County, is dead at 41\n[News](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/recent-stories\/news)News \\| Jan 26, 2020\n\nShare this story\n\nShare\n\nShare on Facebook\n\nShare on Twitter\n\nShare on LinkedIn\n\nShare on WhatsApp\n\nShare via Email\n\nShare via SMS\n\nCopy Link\n\n![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2020\/01\/01055234\/AP20026783670584-1024x683.jpg)\n\n**Kobe Bryant holds his daughter, Gianna, after defeating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Orlando, Florida, on June 14, 2009, to win his fourth NBA title. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. Gianna also died in the crash.**  \n*AP file photo*\n\nNBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday. Bryant’s sudden death at age 41 touched off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.\n\nThe chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.\n\nBryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said.\n***\n***\nAlso killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant’s daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school.\n\nLos Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner.\n\n![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2020\/03\/30232534\/VD-logo-white.png)\n\n### Support Local Journalism\nDonate\n***\n***\n“God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference.\n\n## Sports world in shock\nNews of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish.\n\n“Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. “We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.”\n\nNBA players were in tears during pregame warmups as crowds chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” Tiger Woods was unaware of the news during his final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego when he started hearing the gallery yell “Do it for Mamba,” referring to Bryant by his nickname.\n\nPeople were glued to their phones and TV screens all around the world as news of the crash spread and networks broke into programming with live coverage. A visibly shaken LeBron James wiped his eyes with tissues and walked away alone from the Lakers plane that had just landed in Southern California.\n\nThousands of people gathered to mourn Bryant outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where there is a statue of the retired Lakers legend. Mourners in No. 24 jerseys mixed with those in fancy dress arriving at the downtown arena for Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards.\n\nPeople carried flowers and chanted “Kobe!” and “MVP!” under giant video screens showing Bryant’s smiling face.\n\n“This is where we needed to be,” said Naveen Cheerath, 31.\n\n## Legal saga in Eagle County\nIn July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail. He said the two had consensual sex.\n\nProsecutors dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant 14 months later at the request of the accuser after she refused to testify in court. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court in March 2005.\n\n![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2020\/01\/01055222\/KobeBryantdeath-VDN-012720.jpg)\n\n**Los Angeles Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant, Defense Attorney Pamela Mackey, left, and a member of his security leave the Eagle County Justice Center on April 28, 2004, after the final day of three pretrial motion hearings.**  \n*Daily file photo*\n\n“The victim has informed us … that she does not want to proceed with this trial,” Distrtict Attorney Mark Hurlbert told reporters on Sept. 1, 2004, after the case was dismissed. “For this reason, and this reason only, the case is being dismissed.”\n\nWhen the story broke, national and international media descended on Eagle, with television trucks setting up camp in the parking lot of the Eagle County Justice Center.\n\nAfter District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle dismissed the case, most of the media cleared out quickly, headed for Los Angeles and the Michael Jackson trial.\n\n## Among the greatest ever\nBryant [retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history](https:\/\/apnews.com\/80146db0b2f2bbcce8ed25917ccf6304), finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific shot-maker with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.\n\n“Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.”\n\nBryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.\n\nHe teamed with O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.\n\n“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through,” O’Neal tweeted. Sunday. “(at)kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. … IM SICK RIGHT NOW.”\n\nBryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.\n\nBryant’s death was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where he was unquestionably the most popular athlete and one of the city’s most beloved public figures. Hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image.\n\n“Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.\n\nPresident Donald Trump tweeted condolences to Bryant’s family, saying that “despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, (Bryant) was just getting started in life.”\n\nThe cause of the crash was unknown. Authorities earlier said five people were killed before raising the death toll to nine.\n\nThe National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team of investigators to the site. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days that will give a rough summary of what investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause can take a year or more.\n\nColin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard what sounded to him like a low-flying airplane or helicopter.\n\n“Ït was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.”\n\nThe fog cleared a bit, and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home.\n\nJuan Bonilla of Calabasas said he was working on his roof Sunday morning when he heard a helicopter flying low nearby. He said he thought it was a sheriff’s helicopter on a training mission. He heard nothing amiss with the engine or rotors and said he did not see any mechanical issue with the chopper. It was foggy Sunday morning, but he said visibility didn’t seem to be low at the time of the crash.\n\nFirefighters hiked in with medical equipment and hoses, and medical personnel rappelled to the site from a helicopter, but found no survivors, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said.\n\nFirefighters worked to douse flames that spread through about a quarter acre (.10 hectares) of dry brush, Osby said.\n\nFederal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the downed chopper was a Sikorsky S-76.\n\nAmong other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history, and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.\n\n“The S-76 is a pretty expensive, sophisticated helicopter. … It’s certainly a quality helicopter,” said Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps.\n\nGreen believes weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in bad weather, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside.\n\nAlong with his work boosting women’s sports, Bryant opened a production company and entered the entertainment field in retirement. He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\n\nRandy Wyrick and Nate Peterson of the Vail Daily and Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, David Koenig in Dallas, Mark J. Terrill and John Antczak in Calabasas, AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami, and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.\n\nShare this story\n\nShare\n\nShare on Facebook\n\nShare on Twitter\n\nShare on LinkedIn\n\nShare on WhatsApp\n\nShare via Email\n\nShare via SMS\n\nCopy Link\n\nNews\n\n[![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/12163606\/Cvrdowdhousing-VDN-011326-300x209.jpg)](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/state-land-board-moves-dowd-junction-housing-proposal-forward-in-negotiations-with-avon\/)\n\n#### [State Land Board moves Dowd Junction housing proposal forward in negotiations with Avon](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/state-land-board-moves-dowd-junction-housing-proposal-forward-in-negotiations-with-avon\/)\nApr 10, 2026\n***\n[![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/20151501\/CvrBluCow-VDN-012126-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/blu-cow-owner-faces-final-day-of-business-with-gratitude-anger\/)\n\n###### [Blu Cow owner faces final day of business with gratitude, anger](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/blu-cow-owner-faces-final-day-of-business-with-gratitude-anger\/)\nApr 10, 2026\n***\n[![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/10144200\/AP26100505775481-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/us-and-iran-prepare-for-high-level-talks-as-israel-and-hezbollah-trade-more-fire\/)\n\n###### [US and Iran prepare for high-level talks as Israel and Hezbollah trade more fire](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/us-and-iran-prepare-for-high-level-talks-as-israel-and-hezbollah-trade-more-fire\/)\nApr 10, 2026\n***\n\n[![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/10130726\/Miller-VDN-041226-1-150x150.jpg)](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/warren-miller-exhibit-now-open-at-colorado-snowsports-museum\/)\n\n###### [Warren Miller exhibit now open at Colorado Snowsports Museum](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/warren-miller-exhibit-now-open-at-colorado-snowsports-museum\/)\nApr 10, 2026\n***\n[![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2026\/04\/09130718\/251120_EAT_BE_Milk-1-150x150.jpeg)](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/eat-the-milk-breakfast-in-eagle-serves-the-healthiest-meal-of-the-day\/)\n\n###### [EAT: The Milk Breakfast in Eagle serves the healthiest meal of the day](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/news\/eat-the-milk-breakfast-in-eagle-serves-the-healthiest-meal-of-the-day\/)\nApr 10, 2026\n***\n\n[See more](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/recent-stories\/news\/)\n***\n![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2020\/03\/30232534\/VD-logo-white.png)\n\n### Support Local Journalism\nDonate\n***\n\n[YOUR AD HERE »](https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/your-ad-here\/ \"Your Ad Here\")\n\n##### Top Jobs\n***\n[Town Of AvonGovernment Positions Available - Avon, CO (81620) The Town of Avon has several part-time job openings. 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Bryant’s sudden death at age 41 touched off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.\n\nThe chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.\n\nBryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said.\n***\n***\nAlso killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant’s daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school.\n\nLos Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner.\n\n![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2020\/03\/30232534\/VD-logo-white.png)\n***\n***\n“God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference.\n\n## Sports world in shock\nNews of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish.\n\n“Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. “We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.”\n\nNBA players were in tears during pregame warmups as crowds chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” Tiger Woods was unaware of the news during his final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego when he started hearing the gallery yell “Do it for Mamba,” referring to Bryant by his nickname.\n\nPeople were glued to their phones and TV screens all around the world as news of the crash spread and networks broke into programming with live coverage. A visibly shaken LeBron James wiped his eyes with tissues and walked away alone from the Lakers plane that had just landed in Southern California.\n\nThousands of people gathered to mourn Bryant outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where there is a statue of the retired Lakers legend. Mourners in No. 24 jerseys mixed with those in fancy dress arriving at the downtown arena for Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards.\n\nPeople carried flowers and chanted “Kobe!” and “MVP!” under giant video screens showing Bryant’s smiling face.\n\n“This is where we needed to be,” said Naveen Cheerath, 31.\n\n## Legal saga in Eagle County\nIn July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail. He said the two had consensual sex.\n\nProsecutors dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant 14 months later at the request of the accuser after she refused to testify in court. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court in March 2005.\n\n![](https:\/\/swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com\/mountain.swiftcom.com\/images\/sites\/7\/2020\/01\/01055222\/KobeBryantdeath-VDN-012720.jpg)\n\n**Los Angeles Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant, Defense Attorney Pamela Mackey, left, and a member of his security leave the Eagle County Justice Center on April 28, 2004, after the final day of three pretrial motion hearings.**  \n*Daily file photo*\n\n“The victim has informed us … that she does not want to proceed with this trial,” Distrtict Attorney Mark Hurlbert told reporters on Sept. 1, 2004, after the case was dismissed. “For this reason, and this reason only, the case is being dismissed.”\n\nWhen the story broke, national and international media descended on Eagle, with television trucks setting up camp in the parking lot of the Eagle County Justice Center.\n\nAfter District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle dismissed the case, most of the media cleared out quickly, headed for Los Angeles and the Michael Jackson trial.\n\n## Among the greatest ever\nBryant [retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history](https:\/\/apnews.com\/80146db0b2f2bbcce8ed25917ccf6304), finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific shot-maker with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.\n\n“Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.”\n\nBryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.\n\nHe teamed with O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.\n\n“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through,” O’Neal tweeted. Sunday. “(at)kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. … IM SICK RIGHT NOW.”\n\nBryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.\n\nBryant’s death was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where he was unquestionably the most popular athlete and one of the city’s most beloved public figures. Hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image.\n\n“Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.\n\nPresident Donald Trump tweeted condolences to Bryant’s family, saying that “despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, (Bryant) was just getting started in life.”\n\nThe cause of the crash was unknown. Authorities earlier said five people were killed before raising the death toll to nine.\n\nThe National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team of investigators to the site. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days that will give a rough summary of what investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause can take a year or more.\n\nColin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard what sounded to him like a low-flying airplane or helicopter.\n\n“Ït was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.”\n\nThe fog cleared a bit, and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home.\n\nJuan Bonilla of Calabasas said he was working on his roof Sunday morning when he heard a helicopter flying low nearby. He said he thought it was a sheriff’s helicopter on a training mission. He heard nothing amiss with the engine or rotors and said he did not see any mechanical issue with the chopper. It was foggy Sunday morning, but he said visibility didn’t seem to be low at the time of the crash.\n\nFirefighters hiked in with medical equipment and hoses, and medical personnel rappelled to the site from a helicopter, but found no survivors, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said.\n\nFirefighters worked to douse flames that spread through about a quarter acre (.10 hectares) of dry brush, Osby said.\n\nFederal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the downed chopper was a Sikorsky S-76.\n\nAmong other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history, and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.\n\n“The S-76 is a pretty expensive, sophisticated helicopter. … It’s certainly a quality helicopter,” said Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps.\n\nGreen believes weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in bad weather, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside.\n\nAlong with his work boosting women’s sports, Bryant opened a production company and entered the entertainment field in retirement. He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\n\nRandy Wyrick and Nate Peterson of the Vail Daily and Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, David Koenig in Dallas, Mark J. Terrill and John Antczak in Calabasas, AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami, and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"","ml_types_json":"","ml_intent_types_json":"","meta_language":"en-us","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":1579996800,"attrs_original_publish_time":1579996800,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"2485","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"1526","body_ext_links_number":52,"body_int_links_number":75,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":0,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":454,"download_ttfb_msec":433,"download_size":45274}

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Meta Title	Retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash \| VailDaily.com
Meta Description	In July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony following an encounter with 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail.
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Boilerpipe Text	NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday. Bryant’s sudden death at age 41 touched off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball. The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said. Also killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant’s daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner. “God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference. Sports world in shock News of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish. “Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. “We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.” NBA players were in tears during pregame warmups as crowds chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” Tiger Woods was unaware of the news during his final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego when he started hearing the gallery yell “Do it for Mamba,” referring to Bryant by his nickname. People were glued to their phones and TV screens all around the world as news of the crash spread and networks broke into programming with live coverage. A visibly shaken LeBron James wiped his eyes with tissues and walked away alone from the Lakers plane that had just landed in Southern California. Thousands of people gathered to mourn Bryant outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where there is a statue of the retired Lakers legend. Mourners in No. 24 jerseys mixed with those in fancy dress arriving at the downtown arena for Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards. People carried flowers and chanted “Kobe!” and “MVP!” under giant video screens showing Bryant’s smiling face. “This is where we needed to be,” said Naveen Cheerath, 31. Legal saga in Eagle County In July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail. He said the two had consensual sex. Prosecutors dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant 14 months later at the request of the accuser after she refused to testify in court. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court in March 2005. Los Angeles Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant, Defense Attorney Pamela Mackey, left, and a member of his security leave the Eagle County Justice Center on April 28, 2004, after the final day of three pretrial motion hearings. Daily file photo “The victim has informed us … that she does not want to proceed with this trial,” Distrtict Attorney Mark Hurlbert told reporters on Sept. 1, 2004, after the case was dismissed. “For this reason, and this reason only, the case is being dismissed.” When the story broke, national and international media descended on Eagle, with television trucks setting up camp in the parking lot of the Eagle County Justice Center. After District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle dismissed the case, most of the media cleared out quickly, headed for Los Angeles and the Michael Jackson trial. Among the greatest ever Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history , finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific shot-maker with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown. “Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.” Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams. He teamed with O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010. “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through,” O’Neal tweeted. Sunday. “(at)kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. … IM SICK RIGHT NOW.” Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game. Bryant’s death was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where he was unquestionably the most popular athlete and one of the city’s most beloved public figures. Hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image. “Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. President Donald Trump tweeted condolences to Bryant’s family, saying that “despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, (Bryant) was just getting started in life.” The cause of the crash was unknown. Authorities earlier said five people were killed before raising the death toll to nine. The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team of investigators to the site. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days that will give a rough summary of what investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause can take a year or more. Colin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard what sounded to him like a low-flying airplane or helicopter. “Ït was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.” The fog cleared a bit, and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home. Juan Bonilla of Calabasas said he was working on his roof Sunday morning when he heard a helicopter flying low nearby. He said he thought it was a sheriff’s helicopter on a training mission. He heard nothing amiss with the engine or rotors and said he did not see any mechanical issue with the chopper. It was foggy Sunday morning, but he said visibility didn’t seem to be low at the time of the crash. Firefighters hiked in with medical equipment and hoses, and medical personnel rappelled to the site from a helicopter, but found no survivors, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. Firefighters worked to douse flames that spread through about a quarter acre (.10 hectares) of dry brush, Osby said. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the downed chopper was a Sikorsky S-76. Among other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history, and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference. “The S-76 is a pretty expensive, sophisticated helicopter. … It’s certainly a quality helicopter,” said Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps. Green believes weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in bad weather, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside. Along with his work boosting women’s sports, Bryant opened a production company and entered the entertainment field in retirement. He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN. ___ Randy Wyrick and Nate Peterson of the Vail Daily and Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, David Koenig in Dallas, Mark J. Terrill and John Antczak in Calabasas, AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami, and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.
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[Donate](https://www.vaildaily.com/donate/) - [E-Edition](https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=40b4514b-010b-403b-afbb-0ba1cd8007a5)\\| - [Submissions](https://www.vaildaily.com/submissions/)\\| - [Advertise](https://www.vaildaily.com/submissions/advertise-with-us/)\\| - [Contact Us](https://www.vaildaily.com/contact-us/)\\| [YOUR AD HERE »](https://www.vaildaily.com/your-ad-here/ "Your Ad Here") # Retired NBA superstar Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash #### Basketball legend, whose legal case brought international spotlight to Eagle County, is dead at 41 [News](https://www.vaildaily.com/recent-stories/news)News \\| Jan 26, 2020 Share this story Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share via Email Share via SMS Copy Link ![](https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/7/2020/01/01055234/AP20026783670584-1024x683.jpg) Kobe Bryant holds his daughter, Gianna, after defeating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Orlando, Florida, on June 14, 2009, to win his fourth NBA title. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. Gianna also died in the crash. AP file photo NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday. Bryant’s sudden death at age 41 touched off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball. The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said. * * Also killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant’s daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner. ![](https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/7/2020/03/30232534/VD-logo-white.png) ### Support Local Journalism Donate * * “God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference. ## Sports world in shock News of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish. “Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. “We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.” NBA players were in tears during pregame warmups as crowds chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” Tiger Woods was unaware of the news during his final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego when he started hearing the gallery yell “Do it for Mamba,” referring to Bryant by his nickname. People were glued to their phones and TV screens all around the world as news of the crash spread and networks broke into programming with live coverage. A visibly shaken LeBron James wiped his eyes with tissues and walked away alone from the Lakers plane that had just landed in Southern California. Thousands of people gathered to mourn Bryant outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where there is a statue of the retired Lakers legend. Mourners in No. 24 jerseys mixed with those in fancy dress arriving at the downtown arena for Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards. People carried flowers and chanted “Kobe!” and “MVP!” under giant video screens showing Bryant’s smiling face. “This is where we needed to be,” said Naveen Cheerath, 31. ## Legal saga in Eagle County In July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail. He said the two had consensual sex. Prosecutors dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant 14 months later at the request of the accuser after she refused to testify in court. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court in March 2005. ![](https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/7/2020/01/01055222/KobeBryantdeath-VDN-012720.jpg) Los Angeles Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant, Defense Attorney Pamela Mackey, left, and a member of his security leave the Eagle County Justice Center on April 28, 2004, after the final day of three pretrial motion hearings. Daily file photo “The victim has informed us … that she does not want to proceed with this trial,” Distrtict Attorney Mark Hurlbert told reporters on Sept. 1, 2004, after the case was dismissed. “For this reason, and this reason only, the case is being dismissed.” When the story broke, national and international media descended on Eagle, with television trucks setting up camp in the parking lot of the Eagle County Justice Center. After District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle dismissed the case, most of the media cleared out quickly, headed for Los Angeles and the Michael Jackson trial. ## Among the greatest ever Bryant [retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history](https://apnews.com/80146db0b2f2bbcce8ed25917ccf6304), finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific shot-maker with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown. “Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.” Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams. He teamed with O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010. “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through,” O’Neal tweeted. Sunday. “(at)kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. … IM SICK RIGHT NOW.” Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game. Bryant’s death was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where he was unquestionably the most popular athlete and one of the city’s most beloved public figures. Hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image. “Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. President Donald Trump tweeted condolences to Bryant’s family, saying that “despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, (Bryant) was just getting started in life.” The cause of the crash was unknown. Authorities earlier said five people were killed before raising the death toll to nine. The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team of investigators to the site. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days that will give a rough summary of what investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause can take a year or more. Colin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard what sounded to him like a low-flying airplane or helicopter. “Ït was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.” The fog cleared a bit, and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home. Juan Bonilla of Calabasas said he was working on his roof Sunday morning when he heard a helicopter flying low nearby. He said he thought it was a sheriff’s helicopter on a training mission. He heard nothing amiss with the engine or rotors and said he did not see any mechanical issue with the chopper. It was foggy Sunday morning, but he said visibility didn’t seem to be low at the time of the crash. Firefighters hiked in with medical equipment and hoses, and medical personnel rappelled to the site from a helicopter, but found no survivors, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. Firefighters worked to douse flames that spread through about a quarter acre (.10 hectares) of dry brush, Osby said. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the downed chopper was a Sikorsky S-76. Among other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history, and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference. “The S-76 is a pretty expensive, sophisticated helicopter. … It’s certainly a quality helicopter,” said Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps. Green believes weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in bad weather, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside. Along with his work boosting women’s sports, Bryant opened a production company and entered the entertainment field in retirement. He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN. \_\_\_ Randy Wyrick and Nate Peterson of the Vail Daily and Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, David Koenig in Dallas, Mark J. Terrill and John Antczak in Calabasas, AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami, and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report. 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Readable Markdown	NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday. Bryant’s sudden death at age 41 touched off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball. The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said. * * Also killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant’s daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday afternoon pending official word from the coroner. ![](https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/7/2020/03/30232534/VD-logo-white.png) * * “God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference. ## Sports world in shock News of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish. “Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. “We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.” NBA players were in tears during pregame warmups as crowds chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” Tiger Woods was unaware of the news during his final round at Torrey Pines in San Diego when he started hearing the gallery yell “Do it for Mamba,” referring to Bryant by his nickname. People were glued to their phones and TV screens all around the world as news of the crash spread and networks broke into programming with live coverage. A visibly shaken LeBron James wiped his eyes with tissues and walked away alone from the Lakers plane that had just landed in Southern California. Thousands of people gathered to mourn Bryant outside the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, where there is a statue of the retired Lakers legend. Mourners in No. 24 jerseys mixed with those in fancy dress arriving at the downtown arena for Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards. People carried flowers and chanted “Kobe!” and “MVP!” under giant video screens showing Bryant’s smiling face. “This is where we needed to be,” said Naveen Cheerath, 31. ## Legal saga in Eagle County In July 2003, Bryant pushed Eagle County into the international spotlight when he was charged with a felony for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Eagle woman while he was staying at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, awaiting knee surgery the next day in Vail. He said the two had consensual sex. Prosecutors dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant 14 months later at the request of the accuser after she refused to testify in court. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court in March 2005. ![](https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/7/2020/01/01055222/KobeBryantdeath-VDN-012720.jpg) Los Angeles Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant, Defense Attorney Pamela Mackey, left, and a member of his security leave the Eagle County Justice Center on April 28, 2004, after the final day of three pretrial motion hearings. Daily file photo “The victim has informed us … that she does not want to proceed with this trial,” Distrtict Attorney Mark Hurlbert told reporters on Sept. 1, 2004, after the case was dismissed. “For this reason, and this reason only, the case is being dismissed.” When the story broke, national and international media descended on Eagle, with television trucks setting up camp in the parking lot of the Eagle County Justice Center. After District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle dismissed the case, most of the media cleared out quickly, headed for Los Angeles and the Michael Jackson trial. ## Among the greatest ever Bryant [retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history](https://apnews.com/80146db0b2f2bbcce8ed25917ccf6304), finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific shot-maker with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown. “Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.” Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams. He teamed with O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010. “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through,” O’Neal tweeted. Sunday. “(at)kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. … IM SICK RIGHT NOW.” Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game. Bryant’s death was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where he was unquestionably the most popular athlete and one of the city’s most beloved public figures. Hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image. “Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. President Donald Trump tweeted condolences to Bryant’s family, saying that “despite being one of the truly great basketball players of all time, (Bryant) was just getting started in life.” The cause of the crash was unknown. Authorities earlier said five people were killed before raising the death toll to nine. The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team of investigators to the site. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days that will give a rough summary of what investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause can take a year or more. Colin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard what sounded to him like a low-flying airplane or helicopter. “Ït was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.” The fog cleared a bit, and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home. Juan Bonilla of Calabasas said he was working on his roof Sunday morning when he heard a helicopter flying low nearby. He said he thought it was a sheriff’s helicopter on a training mission. He heard nothing amiss with the engine or rotors and said he did not see any mechanical issue with the chopper. It was foggy Sunday morning, but he said visibility didn’t seem to be low at the time of the crash. Firefighters hiked in with medical equipment and hoses, and medical personnel rappelled to the site from a helicopter, but found no survivors, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. Firefighters worked to douse flames that spread through about a quarter acre (.10 hectares) of dry brush, Osby said. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the downed chopper was a Sikorsky S-76. Among other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the chopper’s maintenance history, and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference. “The S-76 is a pretty expensive, sophisticated helicopter. … It’s certainly a quality helicopter,” said Justin Green, an aviation attorney in New York who flew helicopters in the Marine Corps. Green believes weather may have contributed to the crash. Pilots can become disoriented in bad weather, losing track of which direction is up. Green said a pilot flying an S-76 would be instrument-rated, meaning they could fly the helicopter without relying on visual cues from outside. Along with his work boosting women’s sports, Bryant opened a production company and entered the entertainment field in retirement. He won an Academy Award in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN. \_\_\_ Randy Wyrick and Nate Peterson of the Vail Daily and Associated Press staffers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, David Koenig in Dallas, Mark J. Terrill and John Antczak in Calabasas, AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami, and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.
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