Copter Crash Victim’s Family Files Claims Against City

The family of an 11-year-old Sun Valley girl killed in a rescue helicopter crash filed wrongful death claims against the city Wednesday, alleging negligence that contributed to a car crash.

Norma Vides and other members of her Valley family were injured when a car struck a city trash truck in Shadow Hills the morning of March 23. A Fire Department rescue helicopter was called to take the injured girl to Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles but crashed in Griffith Park, killing Norma and three of five crew members aboard.

In the claims, family attorney Gregory Moreno blames the initial car crash on “negligent design and construction of the roadway and related infrastructure.”

The city “created and maintained a dangerous condition” at the Sunland Boulevard/Wheatland Avenue crash site, the claims state, by failing to provide shoulders, berms or parking lanes.

The family is seeking a total of $22.5 million.

A spokesman for the city was unavailable for immediate comment. Under California law, a city government cannot be sued until a claim has been filed, which gives the city a chance to settle the dispute.

Moreno says he plans to sue the helicopter’s manufacturer later.