California woman charged with murder after bus crash sparks fatal helicopter plunge
A 36-year-old California woman has been charged with two counts of murder after allegedly driving drunk into a Los Angeles bus and killing two passengers; hours later a news helicopter covering the crash scene went down, killing three more people.
A string of fatal incidents unfolded in Los Angeles this week, leaving five people dead.
Prosecutors say 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios was allegedly driving under the influence when she entered oncoming traffic, ran a red light and crashed her SUV into a Los Angeles Metro bus on Tuesday. Two bus passengers died in the collision: 46-year-old Daniel Castillo and 31-year-old Gage Weida. Rios now faces two murder charges and is being held on $4.1m bail, with an arraignment scheduled for September 18. No attorney was listed for her in court records as of Wednesday.
Castillo's daughter Johaunna wrote on a fundraising page that the family is still struggling to accept his death; he leaves behind four children. Weida's father Jeffrey said relatives had been preparing to celebrate his son's upcoming 32nd birthday.
The tragedy deepened hours later when a local television helicopter covering the crash scene went down in Chatsworth and burst into flames. Pilot George Marciniw and reporter Eliana Moreno were killed, along with 29-year-old pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was struck on the ground.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating both crashes. Officials say the final seconds of the helicopter's own broadcast footage may prove crucial: an alarm sounds in the cockpit before the aircraft loses altitude, with a voice heard asking whether the pilot could pull up. An aviation safety expert said the alarm pattern points to a possible engine power loss and dropping rotor speed, suggesting the pilot attempted an emergency recovery maneuver.
Marciniw and Moreno worked for aerial contractor Angel City Air, providing coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52. Moreno had flown with Marciniw since 2023. Records show at least eight fatal U.S. news helicopter crashes since 2000, killing 16 people combined.
A vigil for victims of both crashes was planned for Thursday evening. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Metro chief executive Stephanie Wiggins both issued statements expressing condolences.
