Witnesses Report Scene at Fatal Crash

Passing motorists were shocked Tuesday when the night sky above Irvine exploded with a spectacular collision of two police helicopters that resulted in the deaths of two police officers and a civilian observer.

“I just happened to look over when they hit,” said Ken Bruce, 28, of Corona del Mar, who was about 100 yards away, driving south on MacArthur Boulevard near Bonita Canyon Drive. Bruce said the initial impact “looked like one (helicopter) dropped a flare” then one “dropped straight down and burst into flame. The big explosion came when it hit (the ground).”

Irvine police said 12 witnesses were interviewed at the police station until 4 a.m. Wednesday. National Transportation Safety Board investigators plan to interview the two surviving police helicopter crewmen, perhaps as soon as today.

Tow truck operator Alan Junor, 26, of Santa Ana said he was driving alone near the site of the crash when the two aircraft “were closing at a high rate of speed.” Junor said out loud, to himself, “They’re going to hit!”

The car being pursued, a silver Nissan Pulsar, “made several maneuvers through the intersection, very carelessly,” Junor said.

Chuck Nibeel, 38, of Newport Beach was driving home from dinner with two companions when he saw “some flashes, like firecrackers or fireworks,” then smoke and flame.

“I saw one of the officers lying by the copter,” Nibeel said. “We could tell he was dead.”