Key facts
- Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, was charged with two counts of murder over a bus crash.
- The bus crash killed Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31.
- Rios was allegedly driving under the influence, speeding, and ran a red light.
- A news helicopter covering the bus crash later fell from the sky.
- The helicopter crash killed pilot George Marciniw, reporter Eliana Moreno, and pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia.
- Investigators are reviewing video from the helicopter that captured an alarm and a voice saying 'Uh oh'.
A California woman has been charged with murder following a multi-vehicle incident that began with a fatal bus crash and was compounded by a subsequent helicopter crash. Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, faces two murder charges for allegedly driving under the influence, speeding, running a red light, and colliding with a Los Angeles metro bus on Tuesday, killing two passengers.
Prosecutors stated that Rios was held on $4.1 million bail. The victims of the bus crash were identified as Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31. Castillo is survived by four children, and Weida's family was en route to visit him for his 32nd birthday when they learned of his death.
Hours after the bus collision, a news helicopter responding to the scene crashed in a fiery ball, killing pilot George Marciniw, reporter Eliana Moreno, and a pedestrian on the ground, 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia. Investigators are examining video footage from the helicopter, which captured an alarm sounding and a woman's voice saying "Uh oh" as the aircraft lost altitude. Aviation safety experts suggest the alarm may indicate a loss of engine power and main rotor speed, with the pilot attempting an emergency maneuver.
Los Angeles county district attorney Nathan Hochman stated that the "deadly and destructive consequences of her actions will be felt for years to come." Stephanie Wiggins, chief executive of the Los Angeles metro, extended her sympathies to the victims and their families.