Full Breakdown
Bailee Rios Charged After Fatal Chatsworth Bus-SUV Collision
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Crash Details and Victims
On a Tuesday evening in Chatsworth, Bailee Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, allegedly ran a red light at high speed and entered the northbound lanes of De Soto Avenue, striking a Metro Line 166 bus in the 20900 block of Nordhoff Street. LAPD statements say the impact ejected one passenger and partially ejected a second, killing 31-year-old Gage Weida and 46-year-old Daniel Castillo. Six additional passengers were transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, and a stopped Honda CR-V sustained damage. Rios was treated for injuries, released to custody, and later held on $4.1 million bail.
Criminal Charges and Prior Record
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has filed two counts of second-degree murder, a DUI-causing-injury charge, and reckless-driving counts against Rios. If convicted, she faces life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. Court records show a 2016 misdemeanor drug-possession conviction and a 2022 conviction for driving with a suspended license; a separate 2022 drug-possession charge was dismissed.
Official Statements & Ongoing Investigations
District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed that a “full chemical evaluation” of the substances found in Rios’s system and vehicle is underway, noting that the specific drugs and quantities remain undetermined. He added that a federal investigation into the NBC4 helicopter crash that occurred shortly after the bus collision is still pending, and any potential link to Rios’s case will be considered after that inquiry concludes. Metro spokesperson Jose Ubaldo clarified that earlier reports of Rios’s death were unfounded. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath expressed sorrow for the victims and pledged coordination with local authorities and Metro as investigations continue.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There's currently a federal investigation going on with the NBC4 helicopter crash. That is an ongoing investigation. When that investigation is complete, we'll certainly consider whether or not there is any tie-in with our current prosecution. If there is, then we will consider the appropriate charges. If there is not, then that will not lead to any further charges,” — Nathan Hochman, county district attorney
- “We're obviously very devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our dad,” — Johaunna Castillo. Castillo
- “He had a way of bringing so much laughter and light into every single person's lives,” — Johaunna
Impact and Community Response
The crash prompted a vigil honoring Weida and Castillo, whose families described them as caring and generous individuals. The incident also led to the tragic NBC4 helicopter crash, which claimed three lives and injured two others. Law-enforcement officials continue to solicit information from the public to aid the ongoing investigations.