Five hospitalized after helicopter crashes next to Huntington Beach hotel

Five people were hospitalized after a helicopter crash Saturday afternoon in Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Beach Police Department and Huntington Beach Fire Department responded Saturday to the crash at Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Street, according to a social media post from the police department.

Two people were pulled from the helicopter, and three people were injured on the street, police said.

A video of the crash posted to social media shows the helicopter veering dangerously close to a building before spinning out of control and diving nose-first into a stretch of road or sidewalk at the edge of the beach.

The video showed the chopper crashing onto some palm trees next to a seaside hotel.

The cause of the investigation was unclear.

PCH was closed between Beach Boulevard and Huntington Street, police said, noting that drivers should avoid the area and use alternate routes.