Memorial sign on PCH in Huntington Beach honors officer killed in 2022 helicopter crash

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A Huntington Beach police officer who died in a helicopter crash last year was honored Saturday with his own memorial highway sign.

A portion of the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach will now be known as "Officer Nicholas Vella Memorial Highway."
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Vella's family was joined by local and state leaders to unveil the sign.

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Vella died on Feb. 19, 2022 in a helicopter crash in Newport Beach. He was 44.

He and another pilot were responding to a disturbance call when the helicopter crashed in Newport Beach Harbor.
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Vella grew up in Southern California and spent 14 years with the Huntington Beach Police Department and four years with the Laguna Beach Police Department.