Vigil Held for Victims of LA Helicopter and Bus Crash

Grieving family members and friends gathered at St. John Eudes Catholic Parish in Chatsworth on Thursday for an emotional candlelit vigil for the five victims of a recent helicopter crash and a Los Angeles Metro bus collision. The separate incidents claimed the lives of three individuals when an NBC helicopter fell from the sky, and two others who were killed when an SUV struck a Metro bus.

Among the victims honored were NBC reporter Eliana Moreno, 38; pilot George Marciniw; pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29; Daniel Castillo, 46; and Gage Weida, 31. Moreno and Marciniw were en route to cover the bus crash when their helicopter reportedly experienced an engine failure.

The vigil featured photographs of the victims, flowers, and candles. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember John Lee were among the public officials who spoke at the event. Mayor Bass acknowledged the profound grief of the families and highlighted the crucial role of journalists and first responders who often work in hazardous conditions.

Councilmember Lee, representing the district where the vigil took place, emphasized that the victims were deeply loved. "Tonight we remember them not simply as victims, but as people deeply loved, who had family members, friends, colleagues and neighbors," Lee stated.

Autumn Raiff, Weida's long-term partner, shared her grief, describing Weida as "one in a million" and lamenting the future they had planned. Castillo's family remembered him as a joyful father of four, with his cousin Francis Sandoval noting his contagious laugh and the impact he had on those around him.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the helicopter crash, with a preliminary report anticipated within 30 days. A memorial for the victims is expected to remain in place throughout the weekend.