On Thursday, family and friends came together at St. John Eudes Catholic Parish in Chatsworth for a heartfelt candlelit vigil honoring the five victims of the recent tragic bus and helicopter accidents.
This gathering was a poignant moment for the community, who remembered each victim, including three individuals who lost their lives when an NBC helicopter crashed and two others who were killed in a collision involving an SUV and a Los Angeles Metro bus.
Among those remembered were journalist Eliana Moreno, 38; pilot George Marciniw; pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29; 46-year-old Daniel Castillo; and 31-year-old Gage Weida.
The helicopter had been en route to cover the bus crash that resulted in the deaths of Weida and Castillo. Experts suggest that it may have suffered an engine failure at a notoriously dangerous section of the flight path, known as the “dead man’s curve.”
When the News Chopper4 fell, it ignited a fire that required emergency responders to extinguish.
The vigil featured photos, flowers, and candles held by grieving attendees. Local officials, including Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee, paid tribute to the victims during the event.
“There is such profound grief that comes with unexpectedly losing someone you love,” Bass stated. She also acknowledged the vital roles of journalists and first responders who often face such traumatic situations.
Lee, representing the Chatsworth area, expressed the deep love felt for the victims. “Tonight we remember them not simply as victims, but as people deeply loved, who had family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors,” he remarked.
Autumn Raiff, the long-time partner of Gage Weida, attended the vigil. She shared that he was on his way to work when the tragic crash occurred, involving an SUV driven by 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios.
Raiff described Weida as “one in a million,” stating, “He deserved so much better. We were planning so much for our lives.” Meanwhile, Castillo’s family painted a picture of him as a joyful father of four, with his cousin Francis Sandoval reflecting, “His laugh was contagious; he always had us laughing.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the helicopter crash, with a preliminary report expected in the coming month.
A memorial for the victims will remain set up through the weekend.
