Los Angeles prosecutors charged 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios with two counts of second-degree murder after alleging she ran a red light while impaired by drugs and struck a city bus in Chatsworth on Sept. 18. The crash killed two passengers and injured several others; two people were reportedly ejected from the bus. A news helicopter covering the scene later crashed, killing two more, though those deaths are not currently tied to Rios's charges. Rios also faces DUI and reckless-driving charges; her bail is set at $4.1 million and an arraignment is scheduled for Friday.
Drug-Impaired SUV Driver Charged With Two Counts Of Second-Degree Murder After LA Bus Crash
A woman, 35, in Los Angeles has been charged with two counts of murder for a crash in which she allegedly hit the side of a bus with her SUV. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Prosecutors have charged 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios with two counts of second-degree murder after saying she ran a red light while impaired by drugs and struck a Los Angeles city bus on Sept. 18.
Crash Details
The collision occurred at about 5 p.m. PDT in the Chatsworth neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Rios was driving a Ford Expedition when she ran a red light and struck the broadside of the bus. Two passengers, Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31, died. Five other people aboard the bus, including the bus driver, sustained injuries; officials said two people were ejected from the vehicle on impact.
Charges And Investigation
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said at a news conference that Rios was 'impaired by drugs' and faces additional charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving. Prosecutors say drugs were found in her vehicle and that toxicology and evidence testing are ongoing. If convicted on the most serious counts, Rios could face up to life in prison. Her bail has been set at $4.1 million and her arraignment is scheduled for Friday.
Hochman also addressed a separate incident: a news helicopter covering the bus wreck later crashed, killing two people and injuring two others, one of whom was a bystander on the ground. Prosecutors said those helicopter fatalities are not currently linked to the charges against Rios; they will consider additional charges only if investigators establish a direct connection.
'If there is, then we will consider the appropriate charges. If there is not, then that will not lead to any further charges,' Hochman said. He added a broader warning: 'If you're thinking about getting behind the wheel drunk or drugged, think again.'
Community Impact
Hochman called the collision 'a preventable tragedy,' noting that passengers boarding the bus around 5 p.m. were likely commuting or running errands when the crash occurred. The district attorney's office and law enforcement continue to review evidence as the investigation proceeds.
Help us improve.
