Southern California

MIAMI — Professional soccer player Anton Walkes has died from injuries he sustained in a boat crash off the coast of Miami, authorities said Thursday.

Walkes, who was 25, was found unconscious and taken to a hospital after the crash between two boats Wednesday near the Miami Marine Stadium basin, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Walkes was operating one of the boats that crashed, the state agency said in a statement.

It was unclear whether anyone else was injured. The agency’s investigation is ongoing.

Walkes, a defender, was entering his second season with MLS club Charlotte FC. The team had arrived in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 9 for its first leg of preseason training and had a friendly scheduled with St. Louis on Saturday. That match has been cancelled.

Charlotte FC owner David Tepper said all at the club were “devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes.”

“He was a tremendous son, father, partner and teammate whose joyous approach to life touched everyone he met,” Tepper said in a club statement.

Walkes joined Charlotte for the club’s debut MLS season in 2022. He played in 23 matches with 21 starts and had five shots on goal this past season.

“Anton made those around him better people in all areas of life and represented Charlotte FC to the highest standard both on and off the pitch,” Tepper said.

Fans began laying flowers outside of the east gate of Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Thursday.

Walkes began his career with English Premier League club Tottenham and also played for Portsmouth before signing with Atlanta United in the MLS, where he spent three seasons.

The MLS released a statement saying “there are no words to describe the sorrow of everyone in Major League Soccer today.”

“Anton was a talented and dedicated player who was loved by his teammates and fans,” the statement said.

In 2016, a boat crash off Miami Beach killed Major League Baseball player Jose Fernandez, a star pitcher for the Miami Marlins. Fernandez and two other people died when their 32-foot vessel slammed into a jetty, according to authorities.

Charlotte FC teammate Jaylin Lindsey said he was “heartbroken” to learn of Walkes’ death.

“Fly high my brother, you’re the best teammate I could’ve asked for,” Lindsey Tweeted. “Love you man.”Tottenham Hotspur also tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player, Anton Walkes. The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

MIAMI — Professional soccer player Anton Walkes has died from injuries he sustained in a boat crash off the coast of Miami, authorities said Thursday.

Walkes, who was 25, was found unconscious and taken to a hospital after the crash between two boats Wednesday near the Miami Marine Stadium basin, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Walkes was operating one of the boats that crashed, the state agency said in a statement.

It was unclear whether anyone else was injured. The agency’s investigation is ongoing.

Walkes, a defender, was entering his second season with MLS club Charlotte FC. The team had arrived in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 9 for its first leg of preseason training and had a friendly scheduled with St. Louis on Saturday. That match has been cancelled.

Charlotte FC owner David Tepper said all at the club were “devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes.”

“He was a tremendous son, father, partner and teammate whose joyous approach to life touched everyone he met,” Tepper said in a club statement.

Walkes joined Charlotte for the club’s debut MLS season in 2022. He played in 23 matches with 21 starts and had five shots on goal this past season.

“Anton made those around him better people in all areas of life and represented Charlotte FC to the highest standard both on and off the pitch,” Tepper said.

Fans began laying flowers outside of the east gate of Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Thursday.

Walkes began his career with English Premier League club Tottenham and also played for Portsmouth before signing with Atlanta United in the MLS, where he spent three seasons.

The MLS released a statement saying “there are no words to describe the sorrow of everyone in Major League Soccer today.”

“Anton was a talented and dedicated player who was loved by his teammates and fans,” the statement said.

In 2016, a boat crash off Miami Beach killed Major League Baseball player Jose Fernandez, a star pitcher for the Miami Marlins. Fernandez and two other people died when their 32-foot vessel slammed into a jetty, according to authorities.

Charlotte FC teammate Jaylin Lindsey said he was “heartbroken” to learn of Walkes’ death.

“Fly high my brother, you’re the best teammate I could’ve asked for,” Lindsey Tweeted. “Love you man.”Tottenham Hotspur also tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player, Anton Walkes. The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

Two bicyclists were killed in a traffic collision with a suspected drunken driver in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, Jan. 17, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

At around 8:20 p.m., deputies responded to the area of Foothill Boulevard and Etiwanda Avenue and found a collision involving a Kia sedan and two bicyclists. A Sheriff’s Department statement said one of the bicyclists, a 42-year-old homeless woman from Upland, died on scene; and the other, a 41-year-old homeless man from Upland, later died at a local hospital.

The bicyclists were traveling westbound on Foothill Boulevard in the designated bicycle lane, against the flow of traffic, when the driver crashed into them and fled the scene, the statement said.

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Fontana resident Robert Gubany, was later arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving while under the influence of alcohol after he was found at the scene of another crash later that night. Gubany was being held on $250,000 bail.

The identity of the two victims has not been released. Anyone with information about the crash can contact the investigators at (909) 477-2800.

Two bicyclists were killed in a traffic collision with a suspected drunken driver in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, Jan. 17, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

At around 8:20 p.m., deputies responded to the area of Foothill Boulevard and Etiwanda Avenue and found a collision involving a Kia sedan and two bicyclists. A Sheriff’s Department statement said one of the bicyclists, a 42-year-old homeless woman from Upland, died on scene; and the other, a 41-year-old homeless man from Upland, later died at a local hospital.

The bicyclists were traveling westbound on Foothill Boulevard in the designated bicycle lane, against the flow of traffic, when the driver crashed into them and fled the scene, the statement said.

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Fontana resident Robert Gubany, was later arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving while under the influence of alcohol after he was found at the scene of another crash later that night. Gubany was being held on $250,000 bail.

The identity of the two victims has not been released. Anyone with information about the crash can contact the investigators at (909) 477-2800.

A Southern California man has recounted his near-death experience after he narrowly avoided being crushed by a boulder in his car.

Mauricio Henao was sitting in the driver’s seat of his parked car in Malibu, California, on Tuesday when he received a phone call. He left the car to take the call — and then heard the sounds of massive rocks tumbling down the hillside.

“I just heard loud crashes,” said Henao, according to CNN affiliate KTLA. “And I ran out and saw my car just crushed.”

Dramatic photos show Henao’s Prius with the roof caved in by the 4-foot boulder.

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“The rock is the size of the whole hood,” Henao said. “The windshields are all broken and the frame of the car is just all twisted.”

Debris from the hillside fell across four lanes of traffic, according to KTLA. While no one was injured, several other cars were also damaged by rocks falling down the hillside.

Henao told KTLA that the terrifying incident along the Pacific Coast Highway left him feeling distraught.

“I’m pretty shook up,” he said, according to KTLA. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ll park here again after this. I’m a little traumatized by this whole ordeal.”

The rockslide came after a historic storm hit California earlier this week. The fatal storm left millions under flood watches, toppled trees and flooded roadways.

The state is expecting more extreme weather this weekend, with over 25 million people under flood watches along California’s central coastline and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.

A Southern California man has recounted his near-death experience after he narrowly avoided being crushed by a boulder in his car.

Mauricio Henao was sitting in the driver’s seat of his parked car in Malibu, California, on Tuesday when he received a phone call. He left the car to take the call — and then heard the sounds of massive rocks tumbling down the hillside.

“I just heard loud crashes,” said Henao, according to CNN affiliate KTLA. “And I ran out and saw my car just crushed.”

Dramatic photos show Henao’s Prius with the roof caved in by the 4-foot boulder.

[ns-video id=”433b91fc5e7f2e4bed3fc9f61d47922″ publisher=”21905″]

“The rock is the size of the whole hood,” Henao said. “The windshields are all broken and the frame of the car is just all twisted.”

Debris from the hillside fell across four lanes of traffic, according to KTLA. While no one was injured, several other cars were also damaged by rocks falling down the hillside.

Henao told KTLA that the terrifying incident along the Pacific Coast Highway left him feeling distraught.

“I’m pretty shook up,” he said, according to KTLA. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ll park here again after this. I’m a little traumatized by this whole ordeal.”

The rockslide came after a historic storm hit California earlier this week. The fatal storm left millions under flood watches, toppled trees and flooded roadways.

The state is expecting more extreme weather this weekend, with over 25 million people under flood watches along California’s central coastline and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.

The driver of a car that crashed on the 215 Freeway in Murrieta early Monday, Jan. 16, was arrested after her three passengers died, the California Highway Patrol said.

Alexia Rodriguez, 21, of El Cajon, was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence of alcohol. Rodriguez was seriously burned in the single-vehicle crash and was hospitalized at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

The crash happened just before 4 a.m. on the southbound transition lane to the 15 Freeway during what the CHP described as moderate rain. The 2008 Dodge Charger that Rodriguez was driving went off the road and struck a metal pole, bursting into flames, the CHP said. A male and a female who Officer Mike Lassig said could be in their late teens or early 20s were ejected.

A third passenger, a 15-year-old girl, died inside the car. Rodriguez was able to get out of the car on her own.

The CHP asks that anyone with information on the crash call the Temecula office at 951-506-2000.