Fatal Bus Collision
SUV Driver Arrested On Murder Charges Following Fatal Los Angeles Bus Collision
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Key Points
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Metro initially reported a third fatality after the bus crash, but later clarified that two people had died; both victims were on the bus, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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The crash response involved at least 60 firefighters. Of the six injured people taken to hospitals, four were reported to have suffered minor injuries.
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Witnesses told ABC7 that the SUV swerved into oncoming traffic before running a red light and T-boning the bus; one victim may have been ejected, while the other was killed inside the bus.
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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the separate helicopter crash, while the LAPD is handling the investigation into the bus collision.
A 36-year-old Simi Valley woman was arrested on suspicion of murder after her SUV crashed into a Los Angeles Metro bus in Chatsworth on Tuesday evening, killing two passengers. NBC Los Angeles reported that Bailee Rios was hospitalized following the 5 p.m. collision at Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, then arrested after her release with bail set at $2.03 million. The crash killed Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46, and injured six others.
The tragedy deepened hours later when WCCB Charlotte reported that a news helicopter covering the crash went down nearby, killing three more people: journalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Mancini, and a pedestrian on the ground. The combined death toll from both incidents reached five in less than two hours.
SUV Swerves Across Lanes Before Hitting Bus
Witnesses told ABC7 that Rios's SUV swerved into oncoming traffic before running a red light and T-boning the eastbound Metro Line 166 bus. Police suspect reckless driving, running a red light, and possible driving under the influence. One victim may have been ejected from the bus during impact, while the other was killed inside the vehicle.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded with at least 60 firefighters. Of the six injured passengers taken to hospitals, four suffered only minor injuries, according to WCCB Charlotte. Metro initially reported a third fatality but later clarified that two people had died.
Driver's Bail Set at $2 Million After Arrest
Rios was identified and arrested following her release from the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. News SSB reported that she was booked on suspicion of murder and held on $2.03 million bail. No arraignment date had been set as of reporting.
News Helicopter Crashes While Covering the Incident
About two hours after the bus collision, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 Ecureuil helicopter operated by NBC and Telemundo crashed nearby while crews were covering the Metro bus story. WCCB Charlotte reported that three people died in the helicopter crash: reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Mancini, and a pedestrian struck on the ground.
NY Post noted that the Eurocopter AS 350 B2 Ecureuil model has a documented history of fatal accidents. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the helicopter crash, while the LAPD handles the bus collision investigation.
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