Tragedy struck early Jan. 26 as beloved basketball player, Kobe Bryant, died in a helicopter crash.
Those in the helicopter were Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter; Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his daughter Alyssa Altobelli, his wife Keri Altobelli; Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester; and the pilot, Ara Zobayan. The country was in mourning after hearing
of such news.
According to ESPN, the helicopter took off at 9:06 a.m. from John Wayne Airport in California. Kobe Bryant was headed to his daughter’s basketball game when suddenly there were some malfunctions. The first 911 call was made about 40 minutes later at 9:47 a.m.
Kobe Bryant was in the NBA since he was 18 and was known for being the youngest basketball player in NBA history. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers his entire basketball career and won five NBA titles with them. He also won two Olympic gold medals for playing with
the American team.
Kobe Bryant was a talented man and a loving father. It’s as if the world stood still to honor Kobe Bryant’s passing in the days following the accident. He was an idol to many. He made a huge impact on the NBA as well as the lives of those who knew him
and loved him.
What happened to Bryant and the others on the helicopter was tragic. It broke the hearts of many people around the nation. This will be a day long remembered by many. I pray for Bryant’s wife and other children as well as those affected by the deaths
of the others.