Full Breakdown
Chatsworth Community Holds Vigil for Five Crash Victims
By Drooid · · How we work
The Two Fatal Crashes
Earlier this week, two separate collisions occurred within hours of each other in Chatsworth. The first crash happened just after 5 p.m. near the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue when a suspected DUI driver traveling the wrong way T-boned a Metro bus. The collision killed 46-year-old Daniel Castillo, a bus passenger, and 31-year-old Gage Weida, who was on his way to work.
Roughly two hours later, just before 7 p.m., a NewsChopper4 news-gathering aircraft went down between two commercial buildings on the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue. Aerial reporter Eliana Moreno, 38, pilot George Marciniw, and 29-year-old pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia—all died in the crash.
Community Vigil and Memorial
On Thursday, loved ones, community members, and local leaders gathered for a candlelight vigil outside St. John Eudes Parish. A choir performed as attendees paid respects to the five victims. Organizers set up a memorial with portraits of each deceased individual; the display will remain outside the church through the weekend for anyone wishing to offer condolences.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He was one in a million,” — Gage Weida. Autumn Raiff
- “He was just amazing. His family was everything to him,” — Francis Sandoval
- “His laugh was contagious; he always had us laughing. Any time Danny was around, it was a blast.” — Francis Sandoval
Data & Statistics
- Total fatalities: five.
- Victims’ ages: 29, 31, 38, 46, and an unnamed pilot.
- Crashes occurred within a two-hour window on the same evening.
- One victim, Gage Weida, was engaged to Autumn Raiff; Daniel Castillo is survived by four children.
The vigil underscores the community’s collective grief and the impact of the twin tragedies on families and local residents.