Fundraiser launched for 5 children whose mother and father were killed in Murrieta plane crash
MURRIETA, Calif. (KABC) -- Loved ones have launched a fundraiser for the five children whose mother and father were among the six people killed in a Murrieta plane crash.
Manuel and Abigail Regalado were among the victims who died when the Cessna C550 business jet crashed and burst into flames Saturday morning near the landing approach at French Valley Airport.
According to the GoFundMe campaign, all of the money raised will go directly to Abigail Regalado's sister, who will take full custody of the children. The children range in age from 1 to 14.
"These children did not just lose one parent, they have lost both, which just breaks my heart," a statement on the fundraising website said. "No kid should have to face this type of tragedy."
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner Chad Bianco identified those who died as Lindsey Gleiche, 31, of Huntington Beach; Riese Lenders, 25, of Rancho Palos Verdes; Alma Razick, 51, of Temecula; Ibrahem Razick, 46, of Temecula; Abigail Tellez-Vargas, 33, of Murrieta; and Manuel Vargas-Regalado, 32, of Temecula.
The crash occurred during the second of two landing attempts in fog just before dawn, authorities said. The jet, which can seat up to 13 people, crashed about 500 feet short of the intended runway, said Elliott Simpson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. Simpson said fire consumed most of the plane.
"The pilot reported to air traffic control that he was going to perform a missed approach, which generally happens when the pilot can't see the runway," Simpson said at a news conference.
The crash marked the second time this month that a plane has crashed near the French Valley Airport. On Tuesday, a pilot was killed when a single-engine Cessna 172 crashed near the facility.
Both crashes remain under investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
