This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
On 26 January, a helicopter carrying basketball star Kobe Bryant and eight others crashed into a hill in California, killing everyone on board. The cause of the crash, which occurred in heavy fog, is still being investigated.
A post-mortem examination has now ruled blunt force trauma as the cause of death for all nine victims, including Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. The examination, which was conducted by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner office, also found that the pilot, 50-year-old Ara Zobayan, tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
According to the report, which was posted on the office's website on Friday, the cause of death for all nine victims was ruled as blunt trauma on 28 January. The manner of death was certified as an accident.
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, played for the LA Lakers throughout his career and is considered one of the greatest players in the game's history. He retired in April 2016 after a 20-year career with the team.
Lawyers for his widow, Vanessa Bryant, have filed a lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter, alleging that Zobayan did not assess weather data before taking off.
