The third victim who died Tuesday when the news helicopter working on coverage for KNBC and KVEA crashed has been identified as a 29-year-old man, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, was visiting the city from Cuilapa, Guatemala when the crash occurred in Chatsworth. His cousin, who spoke with NBCLA’s sister station, Telemundo 52, said Mejia had been in town for two days to purchase a car with the intention of selling it back home. Tragically, he was one of three people killed in Tuesday’s helicopter crash.
Mejia’s hometown published a social media post about his death, issuing the following statement:
“The Municipality of Cuilapa and the Mayor, Mrs. Alcaldesa, mourn the tragic passing of the young man Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejia, better known as “Pichi,” whose soul has now rest in peace. We offer our prayers for eternal rest and ask our Lord God to grant the family much patience during these moments of sorrow.”
The crash was reported just before 7 p.m. in the parking lot of a business near the intersection of Nordhoff Street and Lurline Avenue, according to law enforcement. NewsChopper4, which is operated by Angel City Air, was covering a crash involving a Metro bus in Chatsworth when its signal was suddenly lost. For reasons under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft crashed.
Aerial reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, who were both aboard the helicopter, died in the crash. Mejia, who was on the ground at the time, also died.
A fourth pedestrian was hospitalized, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.