Murder Charges for Bailee Rios After Fatal Metro Bus Crash in Chatsworth, LA
Bailee Rios, 36, faces second-degree murder charges after a deadly Metro bus crash in Chatsworth killed two passengers. Her arraignment was postponed twice on medical grounds.
Arraignment Postponed Twice as Murder Charges Loom Over Chatsworth Bus Crash Suspect
Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, missed her arraignment in Los Angeles Superior Court in San Fernando for a second time on Friday, according to abc7.com. Brought to court by ambulance, her attorneys argued she was medically unable to participate in proceedings, and the hearing was postponed once again. She had previously missed a Thursday appearance for the same stated reason.
Rios was arrested following a fatal Metro bus crash in Chatsworth on Tuesday. She has been charged with second-degree murder, DUI, and reckless driving. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison.
Investigators say Rios was driving under the influence of narcotics on the wrong side of De Soto Avenue when she ran a red light and struck the side of a Metro bus at full speed. Narcotics were recovered from inside her Ford Expedition SUV. Firefighters had to cut her from the vehicle after she became trapped in the driver's seat. New footage released after the crash shows Rios, bloodied and in shock, sitting in the wreckage immediately after the collision.
Two bus passengers were killed: Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31. Six others were injured.
Rios was booked Wednesday morning with bail set at $4.03 million. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed at a Thursday news conference that he is unaware of any request to reduce that amount. "We will hold Ms. Rios fully accountable for her actions," Hochman said. "She didn't have to blow through the red light at full force — and that was a choice by her. That choice has resulted in deadly, destructive consequences."
Members of the Castillo family spoke to media on Friday afternoon. "She broke our family, and she needs to pay," said Frances Sandoval, a cousin of Daniel Castillo. "All this B.S. about her medical — probably just going through withdrawals and doesn't want to show her face. It's unacceptable."
Court records show Rios has a prior history of legal trouble, including drug offences and driving on a suspended licence.
A separate tragedy unfolded the same night when an NBC4 helicopter crew reporting on the bus collision crashed just blocks away. Hochman addressed the helicopter crash at the Thursday conference, noting that potential charges connected to that incident are being considered pending the conclusion of a federal investigation.
Hundreds of people gathered Thursday evening at St. John Eudes Church in Chatsworth for a community vigil honouring all five victims killed across both incidents. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attended. "It's just such a tragedy, and I just want the families to know that the entire city grieves with them," Bass said.
Rios is due back in court on Monday.
Anyone with information about the bus crash is asked to contact LAPD Officer Reyes at (818) 644-8114, Officer Lozon at (818) 644-8117, or the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division at (818) 644-8114. Outside business hours, calls can be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)