The woman charged with murder and other crimes in a high-speed crash that killed two Metro bus passengers at a Chatsworth intersection is expected in court on Monday after her arraignment was postponed twice due to medical reasons.
On Friday, Bailee Lynn Rios arrived at the San Fernando courthouse via ambulance. She was seen being rolled inside the courthouse on a gurney by sheriff’s deputies.
Rios did not go inside the courtroom at all and didn’t enter a plea. She could not formally appear before a judge because of her medical condition.
Monday morning’s hearing is slated for 8:30 a.m.
Rios, 36, of Simi Valley was identified as the driver of the 2004 Ford Expedition that authorities said was traveling the wrong way and ran a red light before broad-siding the bus. Rios was charged Thursday with second-degree murder, DUI and reckless driving in a crash that was part of a tragic day in the San Fernando Valley community.
Security camera video showed the orange Metro bus enter the intersection at Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue before the SUV traveling at high speed nearly stuck another vehicle. The SUV was traveling south in northbound lanes on De Soto Avenue when the driver ran a red light and slammed into the bus, police said
The SUV ended up partially inside the bus. Rios was due in court Thursday and Friday, but did not show up due to medical reasons.
The crash set in motion a devastating series of events Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley community. One passenger was ejected from the bus and six passengers suffered injuries.
Two news helicopter crew members, reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, were killed when their chopper crashed as they were covering the bus crash.
A 29-year-old man on the ground who was visiting from Guatemala also died in the helicopter crash.
“The tragedy of the Rios car crash was absolutely preventable,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
During an afternoon news conference, Hochman was asked whether Rios will be charged in connection with the helicopter crash. He said his office will wait to see what comes out of the federal investigation, which is already underway at the crash site.
Six people were injured in the crash.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner identified the victims as 46-year-old Daniel Castillo and 31-year-old Gage Weida.
It was not immediately clear whether Rios has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
