Chatsworth, CA (The San Fernando Valley Post) — The woman charged with murder in a deadly crash at a Chatsworth intersection appeared in court on Thursday for the first time and pleaded not guilty.
Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, was identified as the driver of a 2004 Ford Expedition that authorities said was traveling the wrong way and ran a red light before broadsiding an orange Metro bus. Rios was charged last week with second-degree murder, DUI, and reckless driving.
Rios, who was injured in the crash, was rolled into the courtroom on a gurney and surrounded by deputies. Her next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2, and bail remains set at $4.1 million. Previous scheduled court appearances were delayed due to medical reasons.
Rios was behind the wheel Sept. 15 when the SUV collided with the Metro bus that had just entered the intersection at Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue. The SUV was traveling south in the northbound lanes on De Soto Avenue when the driver ran a red light and slammed into the bus, according to police.
The SUV ended up partially inside the bus. One passenger was ejected, and six passengers suffered injuries.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner identified the victims who died as 46-year-old Daniel Castillo and 31-year-old Gage Weida.
The crash was part of a devastating series of events in the San Fernando Valley community. 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.
During a news conference last week, District Attorney Nathan Hochman was asked whether Rios would 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. A preliminary report is expected in about 30 days, with the final report taking months to complete.