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Woman accused in deadly Metro bus crash due in court
Bailee Rios, the woman accused in a deadly Metro bus crash, is due back in court Monday.
LOS ANGELES - Bailee Rios, the woman charged with two counts of second-degree murder in a fatal Metro bus crash, is due back in court Monday to set a date for her preliminary hearing.
She remains behind bars on $4.1 million bail.
What we know:
In addition to second-degree murder, Rios was also charged with a felony count of driving under the influence causing injury, one misdemeanor count of reckless driving, as well as allegations of causing great bodily injury.
Her court appearances come after multiple postponements. At one point, she appeared in court on a gurney. She is being represented by a public defender and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the incident a "preventable tragedy" and stated that Rios was impaired by drugs at the time of the crash, noting she could face up to life in prison if convicted. Narcotics were allegedly recovered from her vehicle.
Monday’s court date is to set a date for a preliminary hearing. That is when prosecutors will lay out their case against her and a judge will determine if she will stand trial.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Bailee Rios pleads not guilty to second-degree murder in fatal Chatsworth Metro bus crash
- Bailee Rios: Drugs found in SUV of driver charged in fatal Chatsworth Metro bus crash
The backstory:
Los Angeles Fire Department crews were called to the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, following a collision involving a 2004 Ford Expedition and an LA Metro bus.
"A Metro Line 166 bus traveling eastbound on Nordhoff Street was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on De Soto Avenue," according to LA Metro officials.
Los Angeles Police Department investigators said one person was ejected from the bus, while a second passenger was partially ejected. In addition, debris from the crash damaged a Honda SUV.
Two passengers, identified as 46-year-old Daniel Castillo and 31-year-old Gage Weida, were pronounced dead at the scene, and six others were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
That evening, Rios was pulled from the wreckage and taken to a hospital for treatment. She was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder.
The fatal collision occurred roughly two hours before a news helicopter covering the scene crashed nearby, killing three people and bringing the total death toll in the Chatsworth tragedy to five.
PREVIOUS:
- Chatsworth helicopter crash: 3 killed, including NBCLA pilot and aerial reporter
- Audio evidence key as NTSB probes fatal Chatsworth news helicopter crash
What we don't know:
It is uncertain whether federal investigators will link the nearby NBCLA helicopter crash to the bus collision, or how any findings from that separate inquiry might affect the prosecution's legal strategy.
The Source: This story was written with information from local law enforcement officials and previous FOX 11 reports.