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Sources: Drugs found at scene may belong to bus crash suspect
Sources confirmed narcotics and paraphernalia were recovered from the driver charged in the deadly Chatsworth Metro bus crash.
LOS ANGELES - A Simi Valley woman facing murder charges after allegedly crashing her SUV into a Metro bus in Chatsworth, killing two people and injuring six others, was found with narcotics and drug paraphernalia, according to sources.
What we know:
Bailee Rios, 36, had her arraignment at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in San Fernando pushed to Friday due to a medical hold, following her arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division after investigators recovered drug paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine from her belongings.
The backstory:
Police allege that Rios drove a gray 2004 Ford Expedition southbound in the northbound lanes of De Soto Avenue shortly after 5 p.m., ran a red light, and broadsided a Metro Line 166 bus near Nordhoff Street.
The violent impact ejected one passenger, partially ejected a second, and trapped a woman inside who suffered severe crushing injuries, while debris damaged a nearby Honda CR-V., according to authorities.
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Two victims died at the scene, identified by the county medical examiner as 46-year-old Daniel Castillo and 31-year-old Gage Weida. Six others were hospitalized, including Rios, who was treated for her injuries before being booked on suspicion of murder with bail set at $4.03 million.
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Driver in Chatsworth crash had history of substance abuse, relative says
Bailee Rios is being held on $4 million bail after running a red light and crashing into a Metro bus, killing two. FOX 11 spoke to a relative of hers who said she has a history of substance abuse and prior misdemeanors.
Shortly after the collision, an NBCLA news helicopter reporting on the crash went down blocks away, killing pilot George Marciniw, reporter Eliana Moreno, and Edy Gutierrez Mejia on the ground.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not officially confirmed whether impairment directly caused Rios to drive on the wrong side of the road or run the red light prior to the impact.
The recovered narcotics are undergoing official laboratory testing to verify their composition, and toxicological results for Rios have not yet been publicly released.
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NTSB investigating deadly news chopper crash
Reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were killed aboard the helicopter, which was operated by Angel City Air and provided news coverage for NBC4 and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52, NBC4 announced.
Prosecutors have not formally announced the exact stack of charges they will file at her rescheduled court appearance on Friday.
Additionally, aviation officials have not determined what mechanical or environmental factors caused the news helicopter to crash during its coverage of the initial scene.
What's next:
Rios is expected to appear in court on Friday, September 18, where prosecutors will determine formal filing decisions following her arrest.
Meanwhile, local authorities, along with federal transportation investigators looking into the air crash, will continue gathering evidence from both scenes to determine the full chain of events.
Community members plan to gather for a vigil from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at St. John Eudes Church in Chatsworth to honor all five victims killed in the two tragedies.
What you can do:
Residents who witnessed either collision or possess dashcam footage from the area of De Soto Avenue and Nordhoff Street around 5 p.m. Tuesday are encouraged to contact the LAPD Valley Traffic Division.
Local community members wishing to pay their respects or support the grieving families can attend the public vigil hosted at St. John Eudes Church in Chatsworth on Thursday evening.
The Source: This report is compiled directly from official statements provided by the Los Angeles Police Department, verified Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department jail records, and public statements from Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo and Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. Victim identifications were established through formal releases from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. City News Service contributed.