News April 11, 2018
Instagram Stars Among 6 Killed in Plane Crash
UPDATE: The Scottsdale Police Department has identified the other two victims as Erik Valente, 26, and Iris Carolina Rodriguez Garcia, 23.
A tragic plane crash in Arizona left six people dead, including multiple Instagram stars.
The 1970 Piper PA-24 Comanche took off from a Scottsdale airport on Monday night, crashing shortly thereafter on a nearby golf course.
Arizona Central reports that Las Vegas resident Mariah Sunshine Coogan, who had 27,000 followers, was among the victims. Her mother Stacey told the Press Democrat, “She's such a bright light. It's going to be very hard not having her in our life.”
On Saturday, the 23-year-old told fans she was headed to the Phoenix Light Festival. On Monday, she followed up with a video shot onboard the private plane, using the hashtag, “#VegasLetsGo.”
The video featured another social media favorite, Anand “Happy” Patel. The 26-year-old from Oklahoma City had more than 44,000 followers.
His twin brother Akash told FOX 10, "He's certainly going to be with us forever in his memories, and how he positively influenced and touched peoples lives."
James Pedroza, 28, a world traveler and VIP host at The Mirage nightclub in Las Vegas, also died. While Pedroza bought the plane in February, he still didn't have a pilot's license. It is not known who was flying at the time of the crash.
Pedroza's girlfriend, Helena Lagos, 22, also perished. The couple's friend, Micah Griggs, told FOX 5 Vegas that the pair had been dating for six months. "They were just dynamite together. They just loved life."
Authorities have not identified the other two victims.