CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : BARSTOW : Civilian Helicopter Crashes; Pilot Dies

A civilian helicopter crashed and burned in the Mojave Desert near U.S. 395 Friday, killing the pilot, authorities said. It was not immediately clear if anyone else was aboard. Witnesses saw the helicopter go down in open desert near Kramer Junction west of Barstow and called for help, officials said. There was no immediate information on who owned the helicopter, where it had come from or where it was headed, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies said. The crash occurred about 2 1/2 miles east of U.S. 395 and north of California 58, said Officer Donny Jones of the California Highway Patrol station in Barstow.