Bailee Rios pleads not guilty to second-degree murder in fatal Chatsworth Metro bus crash
Chatsworth Metro bus crash suspect pleads not guilty
Bailee Rios, 36, of Simi Valley is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one felony count of driving under the influence causing injury, along with a misdemeanor count of reckless driving.
LOS ANGELES - A Simi Valley woman accused of driving under the influence of drugs at high speeds before crashing into a Metro bus in Chatsworth, killing two passengers and injuring six others, entered a not guilty plea in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday.
What we know:
Bailee Rios, 36, was rolled into the San Fernando courtroom on a gurney, surrounded by deputies and exhibiting dark bruises under both eyes, following repeated delays to her arraignment due to her medical condition.
Public defender Ralf Jacobsen entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf and denied all special allegations.
Judge Patrick Hare granted Rios a waiver that permits her to skip routine court appearances moving forward.
The backstory:
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Rios was driving a gray 2004 Ford Expedition southbound in the northbound lanes of De Soto Avenue shortly after 5 p.m. on September 15.
Investigators reported that she ran a red light, nearly struck an eastbound vehicle, and collided with the side of a Metro Line 166 bus in the 20900 block of Nordhoff Street. The high-speed impact fully ejected one passenger from the bus and partially ejected another.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the two people killed as Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31. Castillo died on the bus, while Weida was thrown onto the street during the collision and died at the scene. Six people were transported to hospitals following the crash, including Rios and the bus driver.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Arraignment delayed again for driver in deadly Chatsworth Metro bus crash
- Chatsworth bus crash: Arraignment for suspect charged with murder postponed for 3rd time
- Chatsworth Metro bus crash: Arraignment postponed for Simi Valley woman due to medical reasons
Rios was arrested the night of the crash by investigators with the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Metro bus crash arraignment delayed yet again
Rios faces two counts of second-degree murder, felony DUI, and reckless driving after allegedly driving an SUV into a Metro bus, killing two passengers and injuring six on Sept. 15.
She is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, one felony count of driving under the influence causing injury, and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving, alongside allegations of causing great bodily injury.
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.
She remains jailed in lieu of $4.1 million bail.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not publicly identified the specific type of narcotics allegedly recovered from Rios' SUV following the crash.
It's 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.
What they're saying:
During Thursday's court proceedings, a man identified as Rios' father sat in the courtroom appearing somber and defeated as he tried to catch a glimpse of his daughter, though he declined to comment after the hearing.
Eight representatives from the Castillo family were also present in the courtroom.
Cellphone video captures aftermath of fatal Metro bus crash
Bailee Rios faces second-degree murder charges after a high-speed DUI crash with a Metro bus in Chatsworth killed two passengers and injured six others.
Following a previously postponed hearing, a cousin of Daniel Castillo expressed the family's deep grief outside the courthouse, stating, "Danny was loved by everybody. She broke our family ... she needs to come and face what she did."
Castillo was a father of four, and his daughter, Johaunna Castillo, remembered him on a GoFundMe page set up for family support, writing that he was "truly an amazing person who had a way of bringing laughter and light into every room he walked into."
What's next:
Rios is scheduled to return to court on November 2 for a preliminary hearing date to be set.
Meanwhile, federal agencies are continuing their investigation into the NBCLA helicopter crash, which tragically killed three people and injured two others. Hochman stated that once the federal inquiry concludes, his office will evaluate the findings to determine whether any factors from the aviation crash impact Rios' prosecution.
The Source: This report is based on direct courtroom observation, official statements, and records provided by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Direct quotes and family details were gathered from public statements made outside the courthouse and verified family fundraising pages. Information regarding legal filings, defense motions, and physical courtroom appearances reflects official court proceedings held at the San Fernando courthouse.