A 36-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder following a vehicle collision in Los Angeles earlier this week. According to prosecutors, the driver was operating her SUV under the influence of drugs when she traveled the wrong direction on a busy street, ran a red light, and struck a city bus. Two passengers on the bus died in the collision, identified as Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31.
The incident became a double tragedy when a television news helicopter that was covering the initial crash encountered problems and went down in the Chatsworth neighborhood. The helicopter carried pilot George Marciniw and reporter Eliana Moreno, both of whom died in the crash along with a person on the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia. The aircraft caught fire upon impact, and surveillance footage shows the helicopter descending at an angle before exploding into flames.
Investigators are examining cockpit video from the helicopter’s final moments, which captured alarm sounds and a crew member’s voice asking “You can’t pull up?” before the aircraft lost altitude. Aviation safety experts suggest the alarm indicates a possible loss of engine power and dangerous decrease in rotor speed, with the pilot apparently attempting an emergency recovery maneuver. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating both the initial collision and the helicopter crash.
The driver was being held on $4.1 million bail and scheduled for a court appearance. The bus passenger who died was described by his daughter as a dedicated worker and beloved figure who made a daily commute home from his job. A community vigil was held to remember those killed in both incidents, with hundreds gathering to pay respects and support the affected families.
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