WHISKEYTOWN, Calif. — Five people have died following a devastating head-on collision involving two vehicles on Highway 299 near Whiskeytown on Saturday night, September 19, 2026. The victims have been identified as Sharlene Casados Black, 52; April Star Sylvia Moon; Little Eagle Moon; Hawk Mogli Moon; and Mason David Baker, 19, of Redding, California.
The crash involved six people, with five fatalities and one survivor. Charles Casados Black, 19, the son of Sharlene Casados Black, survived the collision and remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition, according to information provided by his family. His loved ones have asked the community to continue keeping him and his family in their thoughts as he recovers from his injuries.
Among those remembered is April Star Sylvia Moon, who was born April 16, 1995, and was raised in Weitchpec. According to her family obituary, April was known as a strong, honest and resilient woman who cared deeply for others. She was especially devoted to her two sons and worked to provide them with a secure and loving life.
April later pursued a career in firefighting and was remembered by her family as someone who cared deeply about the people around her. She was also described as a person with a strong sense of humor who brought warmth and compassion to those in her life. Her family remembered her as a friend, mentor, mother and mother figure to many whose lives she touched.
April’s two sons, Little Eagle Moon and Hawk Mogli Moon, were also among those who died in the crash. Little Eagle was born October 27, 2020, and was remembered by his family as social, curious and creative, with a love of storytelling, drawing, writing and taking things apart to understand how they worked.
Hawk was born December 10, 2021, and was described by his family as gentle and observant, with a quieter personality and a strong bond with his brother. The family said both boys were deeply loved by their extended family and community, and their memories will continue to be carried by those who knew them.
A celebration of life for April Moon and her sons is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26, at the Tulley Creek Fire Station in Weitchpec. A firefighter procession honoring April’s service is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Hoopa Fire Station. Food will be served following the service, while the family said interment will take place at a later date. As family, friends and community members gather to remember the five people lost, their lives and the memories they created will remain an enduring part of those who knew them. Condolences are extended to all of the families and loved ones mourning this heartbreaking loss, and continued thoughts are with Charles Black as he recovers from his injuries.
