Chatsworth Bus Crash and Helicopter Tragedy Leave Five Dead
Sandego.net – An SUV slammed into a city bus in Chatsworth on Tuesday evening, triggering a devastating chain of events that ended with a news helicopter crashing nearby. Five people died in the two incidents, which unfolded within blocks of each other in the Los Angeles neighborhood.
The first collision occurred at about 5 p.m. Authorities said Bailee Lynn Rios was driving a Ford Expedition when she allegedly ran a red light, entered opposing traffic and struck an eastbound Metro bus. The SUV became embedded in the bus, leaving firefighters and paramedics facing a difficult rescue.
Deadly Collision During the Evening Commute
Two bus passengers, Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46, died at the scene. The bus driver, Rios and several other people were injured. Emergency crews used hydraulic tools, including Jaws of Life equipment and reciprocating saws, to reach people trapped in the damaged vehicles.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Rios was allegedly impaired by drugs, had narcotics in the SUV and was traveling far above the speed limit. He said she moved into oncoming lanes as traffic stopped at a red light.
“At full force, she plunged into that metro bus.”
Rios has been charged with second-degree murder, driving under the influence and reckless driving. She could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Her attorney has been contacted for comment.
As an SUV slammed into a city bus during a busy travel period, riders were abruptly caught in a disaster while heading to work, returning home or traveling to see relatives and friends. Stephanie Wiggins, chief executive of the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said the injured driver promptly called the operating division for help.
News Helicopter Crashes Nearby
About two hours after the bus crash, a helicopter covering the scene for KNBC-TV NBC4 and KVEA-TV crashed into a parking lot roughly one block east of the original collision. The aircraft caught fire after striking the ground.
The helicopter crash killed aerial photojournalist and reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and Edy Gutierrez Mejia, a tourist on the ground. Moreno was engaged, Marciniw was a veteran pilot nearing retirement, and Gutierrez Mejia had recently arrived in Los Angeles from Guatemala.
Fire Capt. Brandon Silverman said crews were still extracting victims from the bus wreckage when people nearby began shouting about the helicopter. He saw dark smoke rising from the parking lot as responders were redirected from the first emergency to the second.
“To have two incidents of that significance in that short amount of time within a few blocks of each other is definitely a unique situation for any department,” Silverman said.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the helicopter crash. Investigators are reviewing video that captured the aircraft during its descent.
Communities Mourn After Two Disasters
What began when an SUV slammed into a city bus became an exceptionally difficult night for transit riders, local television staff, aviation workers, visitors and first responders. The two crashes brought losses felt across Los Angeles and beyond.
At a Thursday vigil, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke about the sudden grief facing the victims’ families.
“My heart is with the families whose lives changed forever Tuesday night. Simply going to work, coming from work to come back to your family, you expect to see them,” Bass said. “And they never arrive.”
Chatsworth Crash FAQ
Where did the crashes happen? The initial collision occurred in Chatsworth, a suburban Los Angeles neighborhood. The helicopter came down in a parking lot about one block east of the bus crash scene.
How many people died? Five people died across the two incidents: two Metro bus passengers, two people aboard the helicopter and one person on the ground.
Who is investigating the helicopter crash? The NTSB and FAA are investigating the cause of the aircraft’s descent and impact.
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