Beginning Anew After Cerritos Disaster : Mayor, Neighbors Cheer as Family Returns to Rebuilt Home

A Cerritos family that narrowly escaped tragedy three months ago when a DC-9 jetliner slammed into their neighborhood celebrated an emotional homecoming on Saturday.

About 50 neighbors, relatives and friends cheered as the Nelson family returned to their tidy beige stucco home that was nearly destroyed in the devastating Aug. 31 crash. Wayne Nelson said he never considered abandoning the neighborhood.

“We have no qualms about moving back in,” said Nelson, whose home required $75,000 worth of reconstruction work. “This is our neighborhood. These are our friends. This is our city.”

The disaster, the result of a collision between a small plane and the Aeromexico jet, took the lives of 15 Cerritos residents and 67 airline passengers. Wayne and Linda Nelson and their two young sons escaped injury by running out of the house after it caught fire. Their house was among 17 homes damaged or destroyed in the crash.

Cerritos Mayor Don Knabe said he expects most of the families to return to the neighborhood. Knabe, however, said he was surprised that the Nelsons were able to move back so quickly.

The house was rebuilt in less than three months, and the construction company that performed the work picked up part of the tab for the homecoming party. The company’s banner was plastered all over the front yard, and workmen in company shirts joined in the party. Representatives from the Nelson’s insurance agency also participated in the celebration.

Gail Grossman lives three houses away from the Nelsons. Although neighbors still talk about the crash and mourn those who died, Grossman said it was encouraging to see those who had lost their homes start to return.

“Everybody is very anxious for people to come back,” Grossman said. “This is a very close-knit area. And we have always watched out for each other.”