Los Angeles woman charged with murder in Metro bus crash misses second court appearance
Bailee Rios, 36, has missed another scheduled court hearing after being charged with two counts of second-degree murder for a June crash that killed two passengers and injured five others.
A Los Angeles woman charged with two counts of second-degree murder for a Metro bus collision in Chatsworth failed to appear at a court hearing on Monday, marking another missed appearance. Bailee Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, is also facing charges of driving under the influence of a drug causing injury and reckless driving. She remains in custody on $4.1 million bail and could face life imprisonment with parole if convicted.
Rios' arraignment has been postponed twice; her attorneys claim she is medically unable to attend. Court officials said she was taken to the courtroom on a gurney last Friday but did not appear, and she was again absent on Monday. A law-enforcement source indicated she is being treated for at least one broken bone and withdrawal symptoms.
The June 5 crash occurred when Rios allegedly ran a red light at high speed, striking a Metro Line 166 bus on Nordhoff Street. The impact ejected two passengers, killing Daniel Castillo, 46, who died on the bus, and Gage Weida, 31, who was thrown from the bus and died nearby. Five other passengers were injured, with three taken to hospitals for serious injuries and two sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
Prosecutors say narcotics were found in Rios' vehicle and in her system, describing them as “hard drugs.” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said a full toxicology report is pending. He added that a separate federal investigation into a helicopter crash that occurred hours after the bus collision will be reviewed for any possible connection before any additional charges are considered.
Rios herself was injured in the crash and received hospital treatment before being taken into custody. Metro spokesperson Jose Ubaldo corrected earlier reports that she had died at the hospital.
The incident has drawn comments from victims' families, including Castillo’s cousin Frances Sandoval, who expressed frustration over Rios’ repeated absences.
Authorities continue to seek information about the crash and have provided contact numbers for tips.