Woman behind the wheel of SUV that slammed into LA bus before NBC chopper crash was ‘impaired by drugs’ as prior convictions are revealed
Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, has been charged with murder after allegedly driving a Ford SUV the wrong way at high speed, running a red light and crashing into a Los Angeles Metro bus. Prosecutors say she was impaired by drugs, with narcotics found in the vehicle, and described the incident as preventable; she is being held on $4.03 million bail.
Two bus passengers, Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46, died, while six others were injured, including Rios. About two hours later, an NBC helicopter covering the crash crashed nearby, killing reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and tourist Edy Gutierrez Mejia; police and the NTSB are investigating the two incidents, while Rios’s previous convictions include drug possession and driving with a suspended licence.
- Driver allegedly caused fatal bus crash while impaired by drugs.
- Two bus passengers and three helicopter-crash victims died.
- Police and NTSB investigations are continuing.