In a heartfelt post on X, Johan Moreno reflected on the life and career of his sister, NBC4 helicopter reporter Eliana Moreno, who died in a helicopter crash last week while covering a Metro bus accident.

Early jobs and first car

Eliana began working at age 16 as a hostess at Coco’s Restaurant, a job she loved for the free pies she would bring home each day. “We got so sick of eating pies,” Johan wrote.

She later took a position as a receptionist at the family’s dentist office, saving enough money to purchase her first vehicle—a used 1999 Oldsmobile Alero found in an Auto Trader listing.

Seizing opportunities

The Alero later ferried the siblings to Morongo Casino for a KCBS “Sports reporter for a day” contest. “The car was overheating by the time we reached the casino, but there were over 1,000 people in line, and she won!” Johan recalled.

He emphasized that this win exemplified Eliana’s approach: taking every chance, no matter how small, and working her way up from the bottom in a field often criticized for nepotism.

Local reporting roots

Eliana’s reporting kept her close to home, covering neighborhoods in Irvine, Garden Grove, and Orange. “She was always excited about reporting about our home: Orange County,” Johan wrote.

After graduating from Chapman University, she returned to Santa Ana College to join its news program, where a veteran aerial journalist offered her an internship that launched her aerial reporting career.

Family gratitude

Johan concluded his tribute by thanking the community for the outpouring of prayers and well‑wishes. “My family appreciates all the well wishes and prayers we have received as we go through this tragic time in our lives. We love you all,” he wrote.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.