A quiet gathering in Chatsworth brought families, friends and community members together Thursday evening to remember five people who died in two devastating crashes just hours apart.
Candles, photographs and messages of remembrance filled the grounds of St. John Eudes Parish as people gathered to honor Daniel Castillo, Gage Weida, Eliana Moreno, George Marciniw and Edy Gutierrez Mejia.
The five deaths stemmed from two separate incidents on September 15 that unfolded within a few hours of one another in the San Fernando Valley.
Two deadly crashes changed the course of one evening
The first tragedy happened shortly after 5 p.m. near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, where an SUV collided with a Metro bus.
Authorities said the SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed on the wrong side of the road before running a red light and striking the bus. Two passengers, 46-year-old Daniel Castillo and 31-year-old Gage Weida, were killed. Several other people were injured.
The driver, 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios of Simi Valley, was arrested following the crash. Prosecutors have since filed two counts of second-degree murder, along with charges of driving under the influence of a drug causing injury and reckless driving. Prosecutors allege that Rios was impaired when she drove into the path of the bus.
Rios was scheduled for an arraignment Friday after a previous court appearance was postponed because she was not transported from jail for medical reasons. The charges are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
About two hours later, another tragedy struck nearby.
A NewsChopper4 helicopter was covering the earlier bus crash when it went down in a parking area between commercial buildings on Mason Avenue. Reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were killed. Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, who was on the ground, also died.
The crash left a community already dealing with one deadly incident facing another sudden loss.
Families and neighbors gather to remember the victims
At Thursday’s vigil, the focus shifted away from the investigations and toward the people behind the names.
Community members came together to support relatives and friends who were mourning unexpected losses. Los Angeles officials also attended the gathering and spoke about the impact of losing people in such sudden circumstances.
Moreno and Marciniw were longtime members of the aerial news community. They frequently worked together while covering fires, police activity and other major events across Southern California.
Flowers, photographs and other tributes have also been placed at locations connected to the victims, including the helicopter’s home base at Whiteman Airport.
Investigators examine final moments of helicopter flight
While families mourn, federal investigators are working to determine why the helicopter crashed.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are examining the wreckage, maintenance information, weather conditions and other evidence. Investigators have also obtained video and audio from the helicopter’s final moments.
The recorded footage has become an important part of the investigation. It captures changes in the aircraft’s sound shortly before the helicopter began losing altitude, followed by warning tones and a brief exchange between the crew before the recording ends.
NTSB investigators have said the recording may provide important clues about what happened inside the aircraft. Nearby surveillance footage is also being reviewed as investigators work to reconstruct the helicopter’s final descent.
The wreckage has been moved to a secure location for further examination. Investigators expect the process to take months, and determining the official cause could take considerably longer.
A community left remembering five lives
For residents of Chatsworth, the events of September 15 are now tied to five names and two separate tragedies that unfolded in the same part of Los Angeles.
The vigil offered a chance for the community to pause amid the investigations and remember the people who died—not simply as victims of crashes, but as family members, coworkers, friends and neighbors whose absence will be felt long after the emergency crews have left.
The investigations into both incidents remain ongoing, while the families of Castillo, Weida, Moreno, Marciniw and Gutierrez Mejia continue to grieve their losses.
