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Kobe Bryant Crash Fatalities Include College Baseball Coach and His Family, Girls Basketball Coach

While authorities have yet to officially confirm the identity all of the people killed in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif., that claimed the life of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, information is coming out about some of the other people who lost their lives on Sunday.

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa were killed in the crash, according to the college. Altobelli’s family confirmed their deaths to the school.

“John meant so much to not only Orange Coast College, but to baseball,” OCC athletic director Jason Kehler said in a statement. “He truly personified what it means to be a baseball coach. The passion that he put into the game, but more importantly his athletes, was second to none — he treated them like family. Our deepest condolences go out to the Altobelli family during this time of tragedy.”

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Altobelli coached at OCC for 27 years, leading the school to four state titles. Altobelli coached New York Yankees star Aaron Judge as well as New York Mets all-star Jeff McNeil at one point during their careers.

In addition, Christina Mauser, an assistant girls basketball coach at Harbor Day School in Corona Del Mar, Calif., died in the crash as well, Mauser’s husband said on social media. He wrote on his Facebook page, “My kids and I are devastated. We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much.”

Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley tweeted about Mauser’s passing, writing, “This devastating tragedy gets worse by the hour. So much pain for so many local families. Our hearts are broken & grieving for the families impacted.”

I just learned that our amazing Matt Mauser of TiajuanaDogs lost his wife Christina in the crash. She coached the girls team. This devastating tragedy gets worse by the hour. So much pain for so many local families. Our hearts are broken & grieving for the families impacted.

— Mayor Katrina Foley (@KatrinaFoley) January 27, 2020

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Dr. Jonathan Lucas, Los Angeles County Coroner, said the recovery effort of the bodies could take days to complete due to the terrain of the crash site. He added, “Our next priority after recovery is identification and notification of the families.”

The helicopter was traveling to a basketball practice at Bryant’s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., when it went down in the hills west of the San Fernando Valley on Sunday at about 10 a.m. PT, officials said.

The crash caused a wildfire that was contained to the crash site and was not near any homes or major roadways. When authorities arrived at the mountainside area, they found no survivors in the fiery wreckage.

Bryant’s death came just one day after he was passed on the NBA’s all-time scoring list by current Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

Read original story Kobe Bryant Crash Fatalities Include College Baseball Coach and His Family, Girls Basketball Coach At TheWrap