LA Metro Bus Crash Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Murder From Hospital Gurney

Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of second-degree murder in the Sept. 15 crash that killed two and triggered a fatal helicopter crash.

LA Metro Crash Suspect Arraigned on Gurney, Pleads Not Guilty to Murder

Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, appeared in San Fernando Superior Court on Thursday with blackened eyes and hospital blankets draped over her, wheeled in on a gurney to face murder charges in the deadly September 15 Metro bus crash in Los Angeles. NY Post Metro reports she stared at the ceiling for much of the proceeding.

Rios pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, driving under the influence, and reckless driving. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

Thursday's arraignment had been repeatedly delayed after Rios missed several prior court appearances for medical reasons while recovering from the collision.

Two Killed, Chain of Events Led to Helicopter Crash

The LA County Department of the Medical Examiner identified the two bus crash victims as Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46. Castillo was a father of four children; Weida had a longtime partner.

The September 15 crash set off a chain of events that ended in a second tragedy: an NBC News helicopter covering the scene went down and crashed into a nearby parking lot, killing reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and bystander Edy Gutierrez Mejia.

Methamphetamine Found in Vehicle

Following the wreck, police discovered suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside Rios' SUV, District Attorney Hochman said.

Hochman was direct in his assessment of culpability. "Miss Rios did not have to get behind the wheel while impaired. She did not have to drive on the other side of the road. She did not have to blow through the red light at full force and drive her SUV right into a Metro bus. That was all preventable," he said.

Texts Sent Hours Before the Crash

The California Post revealed text messages Rios sent in the hours before the collision. At 1:24 p.m. on the day of the crash, she wrote to a friend named Brad Aragon: "Brad, it's not a joking matter on this bf thing its serious and im honestly scared but yes of course imma come see you."

Aragon told The Post that Rios had "big concerns lately" and "was associating with certain people that she shouldn't be associating with."

Video Shows Rios Dazed After Impact

Newly released footage captured Rios dazed and bloodied in the moments immediately after the crash. In the video, she spoke with a man on the scene and said she was okay. The footage also showed extensive damage to both the Metro bus and Rios' SUV, with shredded metal and shattered glass spread across the scene.

Source: NY Post Metro