This archive report was first published on 17 May 2020.
On January 26, 2020, NBA legend Kobe Bryant died from blunt force trauma in a helicopter crash that killed him and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. The Los Angeles County coroner's office report provides a harrowing glimpse into the severity of the crash.
The report revealed that the pilot, Ara George Zobayan, tested negative for drugs and alcohol. However, the impact of the crash was so severe that the doctors had to identify Bryant by his fingerprints.
The LA Lakers star and his daughter Gianna were among nine people who died when the aircraft crashed into a hillside. The passengers included two of Gianna's basketball teammates, their relatives, and a coach, who were on their way to a tournament in Thousand Oaks where Bryant had been set to coach.
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters Inc, which operated the aircraft, and its owner Island Express Holding Corp.
The coroner's report detailed the gruesome scene, with broken bones, dismembered body parts, and residue of fuel on the clothes of the victims.
