California IN BRIEF : VENTURA : Kirk Douglas Files Claims in Air Crash

Actor Kirk Douglas has filed claims against Santa Paula, Ventura County and the state for injuries he suffered during a midair collision that killed two men at the Santa Paula Airport. Douglas is seeking a minimum of $10,000 in damages from each agency in the claim filed Thursday. Similar claims were filed by Beverly Hills Police Officer Michael Carra on Friday and cartoon voice actor Noel Blanc on Wednesday. The three men were hospitalized with various injuries after the accident. The crash occurred when a Bell JetRanger helicopter piloted by Blanc collided with a small plane during takeoff at the Santa Paula Airport, killing the plane’s pilot, Lee Manelski, 46, and his passenger, David Tomlinson, 18. All three claims allege that the Santa Paula Airport’s runway and helicopter pad are too close together and that the public agencies are responsible for regulating and designing the airport.