Bus crash: Family and friends to hold vigil for Mattison Haywood

Family, friends and students of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles will gather Thursday for a candlelight vigil to honor Mattison Haywood, one of the 10 victims of the bus crash in Orland.

Haywood, along with fiance Michael Myvett, was a chaperon accompanying students from Los Angeles-area high schools to Humboldt State for a college recruiting visit when their bus was hit by a FedEx truck.

In the days since the crash, victims’ relatives have been identifying their loved ones as being among those killed. The Glenn County coroner cautioned after the crash that it could take days to officially identify the bodies because of the severity of the burns.

WHO THEY WERE: Orland bus crash victims

Both Haywood and Myvett were graduates of Humboldt State.

Last week, the president of Charles R. Drew, a private university in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles where Haywood was enrolled in the post-baccalaureate program, said the school was mourning her loss.

“The university’s thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Mattison’s family and friends during this difficult time,” a statement from the school read. “The CDU Family grieves with them.”

Other vigils have been organized this week for victims of the fatal crash.

On Wednesday, students, parents and L.A. Unified officials and teachers attended a vigil at Dorsey High School in honor of Jennifer Bonilla, 17.

The University of La Verne is also holding a remembrance service for graduate student Arthur Arzola, an admissions counselor for Humboldt State and a chaperon on the bus.

On Tuesday, friends and family members of Adrian Castro, 19, gathered at El Monte High School to honor the teen. Later that same day, about 200 people gathered at Myvett’s grandmother’s home in Manchester Square to honor her grandson and other victims of the crash.

Humboldt State said it also is planning an afternoon vigil for all of the victims.

[For the Record, 11:02 a.m. PDT, April 17: A previous version of this post and a previous headline incorrectly stated the vigil occurred Wednesday; it is scheduled for Thursday.]

ruben.vives@latimes.com
Twitter: @latvives