BRIEFLY.

Motorcyclist hits tree; rider hurt

MOORPARK -- A motorcyclist died after running off the road and striking a tree Friday night, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

A female passenger also went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anthony Krueger, 25, of Moorpark was riding his motorcycle west on Country Hill Drive east of Woodhill Drive about 9:20 p.m. when his bike veered off the road and struck a tree, officials said. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene.

It does not appear that Krueger was intoxicated, officials said. Country Hill Drive was shut down in both directions from Bentcreek Road to Woodhill Drive for about three hours.

-- Daily News

Freeway truck crash kills one

NORTH HOLLYWOOD -- A 19-year-old man was killed Saturday when the pickup truck he was driving overturned on a freeway in North Hollywood, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Miguel Angel Gonzalez of North Hollywood died in the crash, which was reported on the northbound Hollywood Freeway, just north of Victory Boulevard, at 12:23 p.m., according to the coroner's office.

Gonzalez was the only person involved in the solo-vehicle crash, said CHP Officer Patrick Kimball.

-- City News Service

13 people jailed in hooker sting

Police arrested 13 people in an overnight prostitution sting in the Valley's North Hills area, authorities said Saturday.

The operation, near Sepulveda Boulevard and Rayen Street, began about 8 p.m. and concluded about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

LAPD officers also impounded nine vehicles belonging to the suspects, using a city ordinance that was enacted in 2005.

The City Attorney's Office will determine what fees the arrestees will have to pay to get their vehicles back. In some cases, vehicles may qualify to be forfeited permanently, police said.

-- City News Service

Officer stitched up after arrest

PACOIMA -- A Los Angeles police officer needed four stitches to close cuts on his head after a fight with a car burglary suspect early Saturday, police said.

The officer, whose name was withheld, caught two men breaking into a vehicle at Paxton Street and Telfair Avenue just after 2:30 a.m., said Los Angeles police Sgt. Enrique Mendoza of the Foothill Station.

One suspect fought with the officer, while the other ran toward the Ronald Reagan Freeway, Mendoza said.

Backup officers managed to arrest the first suspect, while others chased down the fleeing man, who also fought with officers, Mendoza said.

Both the officer and the suspect were taken to hospitals, Mendoza said. The officer was released shortly after receiving stitches, Los Angeles police Officer Jason Lee said. The names of the suspects have not been released, Lee said.

-- City News Service

Executed man's will is contested

SAN QUENTIN, Calif. -- The son of executed Crips gang founder Stanley Tookie Williams is contesting his late father's will.

Travon Williams, 33, said the will doesn't reflect his father's true intentions. He claims the executor of his father's estate is a business partner and said the will was signed two days before Williams' execution at San Quentin prison.

It's unclear what Williams' estate may be worth. Tookie Williams wrote children's books denouncing gang violence while on Death Row.

Barbara Becnel of Richmond is the sole beneficiary. Becnel filed a petition last spring in Marin Superior Court to begin probate proceedings.

Becnel said Travon Williams never publicly supported saving his father's life but ``now he is willing to publicly dishonor the wishes and intelligence of Stanley Tookie Williams for his own financial gain.''

-- Associated Press

No one hurt as copter lands hard

A helicopter made a hard landing at Van Nuys Airport about 5:15 p.m. Saturday during a training flight, but no one was injured, fire officials said.

The 2004 Schweizer Model 269C-1 made the hard landing after the occupants -- a flight instructor and another pilot taking instrument training -- reportedly experienced an in-flight emergency, said Brian Humphrey, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Four companies of Los Angeles firefighters, including Van Nuys Airport-based LAFD crash/rescue and foam units, responded.

There was no fire or fuel spill and both men escaped without obvious injury. Their identities were not released.

-- Daily News