By Mary O’KEEFE

A helicopter landed in the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 4500 block of Raymond Monday as a medical transport for a child involved in an early morning accident.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Mountain and Briggs avenues at 7:15 a.m.

The female driver of the first vehicle carrying the 3-year-old girl as a passenger was at the Mountain Avenue stop sign and while turning left, southbound, a second vehicle traveling northbound apparently went through the stop sign and struck the first vehicle, said Lt. Angela Shepherd of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.

When Deputy Michael Spina arrived at the scene the driver of the first vehicle, the mother of the 3-year-old, and her daughter were sitting on the curb.

“The mom was holding a tissue to the [child’s] head,” Spina said.

The little girl had abrasions on her forehead, he said.

Reserve Deputy and Montrose Search and Rescue member Mike Leum came upon the accident first.

Leum said due to the collision the first vehicle’s doors could not be opened. He helped the mother out through the driver’s side window. She then got her child out of the back seat of the vehicle through the window.

He added the mother was calm and helpful.

Los Angeles County Fire Department decided to air evacuate the child to USC Medical Center due to traffic conditions at the time of the accidents, Spina said.

The girl was in a child car seat at the time of the accident. The girls injuries were not life threatening.

The accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

  MARY OKKEFE