Woman who slammed into LA Metro bus, killing 2 before deadly helicopter crash, was allegedly high on drugs

The woman allegedly high on drugs who smashed into a Los Angeles Metro bus, killing two people and setting off a chain reaction of events that ultimately led to the death of an NBC reporter and her helicopter pilot, was charged with two counts of second degree murder.

Bailee Lynn Rios barreled through a Chatsworth intersection in her Ford Expedition at a high rate of speed Tuesday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a press conference Thursday.

Hochman revealed Rios was charged with two counts of second degree murder, alleging she was high on drugs and carrying drugs in her vehicle at the time of the crash. She will also be charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving.

She faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars if convicted, he said.

Hochman called the deaths caused by Rios preventable.

“Miss Rios did not have to get behind the wheel while impaired. She did not have to drive on the other side of the road. She did not have to blow through the red light at full force and drive her SUV right into a Metro bus. That was all preventable,” he said.

In addition to the two people killed, five other people were injured, including two people who were thrown out of the bus, Hochman said.

He also mentioned the NBC news helicopter crash that killed reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.

Rios, 36, is currently being held on a bail amount set at $4.03 million.

The charges come after Rios was a no show at her scheduled arraignment Thursday due to medical reasons — she’s been in the hospital since the crash. She is expected again in court Friday morning.

Rios was hospitalized after the horrific crash that sent her silver SUV barreling into the Metro Bus during rush hour on Tuesday. The crash embedded her vehicle into the bus, killing the two passengers and injuring several others. 

Cops discovered suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in her vehicle following the deadly Tuesday wreck, sources with knowledge of the investigation told the California Post.

The crash indirectly resulted in a horrific chain of events, leading to NBC’s chopper plummeting to the ground and killing the pilot, George Marciniw, and reporter Eliana Moreno. The helicopter also killed Edy Gutierrez Mejia, a bystander on the ground.

The news of the helicopter crash sent shockwaves through Los Angeles and the rest of the nation. KNBC has been scrambling to cover the tragedy while grieving two of their own. 

Mourners have laid flowers at a makeshift memorial at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima – the site where the NewsChopper 4 would fly out from. 

The California Post obtained exclusive video of the crash, showing Rios’ SUV smash into the bus at high speed, sending debris everywhere.

The LA County Department of the Medical Examiner identified the victims of the bus crash as Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46 on Wednesday morning.

Castillo’s family said they wish they would have had more time with him.

“Our dad brought so much love, laughter, joy, and light into our world. We are incredibly blessed to have loved him and to have been loved by him,” the family said in a statement. 

Weida’s family described him as a “kind, caring, and selfless son.” 

Weida’s girlfriend, Autumn Reiff, also shared an emotional tribute to the 31-year-old on Facebook Wednesday morning.

“We were so young and in love, my sugar muffin, my boo, my other half, the person that was the closest to me, someone who loved me unconditionally and that I loved back,” Reiff wrote. The couple had been together for almost a decade, according to Reiff.

“Wake me up from this bad dream, my head hurts so much from crying,” she added. “My world is shattered. I ask the lord why he couldn’t have taken me first.” 

Rios had “big concerns lately,” leading up to the crash, her close friend Brad Aragon told the California Post.

“Brad, it’s not a joking matter on this bf thing its serious and im honestly scared but yes of course imma come see you,” read a text from Rios to Aragon at 1:24 p.m. Tuesday — only hours before her SUV slammed into the side of the Metro bus.

“She was saying lately that she was associating with certain people that she shouldn’t be associating with. I was going to help her with that,” he said.

Rios allegedly smashed into the bus five hours after the text exchange.

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