The driver who slammed into an LA bus before a news helicopter crash is charged with murder

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An SUV driver was under the influence of drugs when she swerved into the wrong lane, blew a red light and slammed into a Los Angeles city bus, killing two riders, prosecutors said Thursday as they charged her with murder.

It was a tragedy compounded by the subsequent fatal crash of a TV news helicopter that had been covering the collision.

Bailee Lynn Rios was speeding and impaired when she drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue and struck a vehicle before plowing into a city bus on Tuesday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told a news conference.

Rios, 36, faces two charges of second-degree murder in the deaths of the two people on the bus, identified as Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31. Castillo left four children.

“There are no words that can truly capture how much we will miss him or the space he leaves behind in our lives,” Castillo’s youngest daughter, Johaunna, wrote on a fundraising page for funeral expenses.

Rios was being held on $4.1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court Friday. Online court records did not list a lawyer who might speak on her behalf, and the public defender’s office did not immediately return a message about whether it was representing her.

Reached Wednesday, her mother Cindy Rios said she was shocked and saddened by the string of events. She said she had not spoken to Bailee Lynn Rios since her arrest and had not been contacted by law enforcement. She could not immediately be reached Thursday for additional comment.

The news helicopter crash killed both people on board, pilot George Marciniw and reporter Eliana Moreno, and a man on the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia. At least four cars and two storage containers burned after the helicopter caught fire.

A vigil was planned Thursday evening to honor the victims of both crashes.

There were no immediate details on what caused the helicopter to go down, but investigators said significant clues could come from the last seconds of video the crew broadcast. In it, an alarm could be heard inside the helicopter’s cockpit as it lost altitude.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Fabian Salazar said Wednesday that the video is “probably the most important evidence that we have discovered so far.”

Just after the beeping starts, a woman’s voice says “uh oh.” The helicopter moves quickly away from the bus crash site and starts losing altitude. The woman says “You can’t pull up?” before the video stops as the chopper nears the ground.

Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said the alarm suggests a potential loss of engine power and a dangerous decrease in the main rotor speed. He said the pilot appeared to be trying to perform an emergency maneuver to use the wind to force the rotor to spin again.

The NTSB is also investigating the bus collision.

Moreno and Marciniw both worked for Angel City Air, a helicopter contractor, and provided aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52.

Moreno, born in Orange County, joined Angel City Air in 2010, the same year she earned a broadcast journalism and political science degree from Chapman University. She reported for several news outlets and began flying with Marciniw in 2023, NBC4 said.

Marciniw grew up in Southern California and graduated from Burbank High School in 1974.

There have been at least eight fatal crashes involving news helicopters in the U.S. since 2000, killing 16 people, according to a review of federal accident records and news accounts.

A memorial for Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw, who died in a helicopter crash the day prior while covering an accident for a television station, at the site where their helicopter used to park at Whiteman Airport in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) ADDITION: the day prior while covering an accident for a television station.

A person adjusts flowers at a memorial for Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw, who died in a helicopter crash the day prior while covering an accident for a television station, at the site where their helicopter used to park at Whiteman Airport in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) ADDITION: Adds in a helicopter crash the day prior while covering an accident for a television station.

A memorial for Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw who died in a helicopter crash is seen at the site where their helicopter used to park at Whiteman Airport in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

In this aerial view, people investigate the aftermath of a news helicopter crash in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026.(AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A person adjusts flowers at a memorial for Eliana Moreno and George Marciniw who died in a helicopter crash at the site where their helicopter used to park at Whiteman Airport in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Bournemouth kicked off its first European campaign with a 2-1 over Real Sociedad, Crystal Palace beat Polish champion Lech Poznań 4-0 and Juventus routed Dutch team N.E.C Nijmegen 5-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.

Celtic suffered a blow with a 3-1 loss at home to Ferencváros, and second-tier Portuguese club Torreense upset Lillestrøm 2-1 in Norway.

Elsewhere, Manchester City routed second-division Norwich in the English League Cup, and Real Betis regained a place among La Liga’s elite.

The Cherries looked comfortable in their European debut. Justin Kluivert scored Bournemouth's first-ever European goal 11 minutes into the match in San Sebastian. It was 2-0 just nine minutes later on Rayan’s header.

Sergio Goméz scored for the hosts, who returned to Europe after a one-year absence.

Bournemouth finished sixth in the Premier League last season but is still looking for its first league win this campaign under new coach Marco Rose.

Crystal Palace put the result beyond doubt early at Selhurst Park courtesy of goals from Yeremy Pino, Chris Richards and Jørgen Strand Larsen for a 3-0 lead by the 34th minute. Eddie Nketiah added a late goal shortly after the visitors were reduced to 10.

Palace, which won the third-tier Conference League last season, finally got to play in the Europa League one year after its entry was blocked by UEFA because of shared ownership links with Lyon through businessman John Textor.

U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie returned from injury to captain Juventus. He contributed an assist.

Nicolás González, Kerim Alajbegović gave the hosts a 2-0 lead before Nick Woltemade scored from the spot. Zeki Çelik and substitute Randal Kolo Muani also scored.

In other Europa League games, Beşiktaş beat Marseille 4-1 in Istanbul, and Union Saint-Gilloise blanked Viktoria 3-0 at Plzeň.

Torreense, a surprise winner of the Portuguese Cup, got the victory despite playing with 10 men from the 85th minute.

Earlier Thursday, Bundesliga club Hoffenheim dominated possession but OFI Crete scored the goals to win 2-0. Aitor Cantalapiedra gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the first half and substitute Georgios Kanellopoulos headed home the second late.

In the other early game, Salzburg collected three points for a 1-0 win at Levski Sofia.

The opening round of matches was split into two days. On Wednesday, Benfica upset AC Milan 2-0 at San Siro, Sunderland beat visiting AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in its first European match since 1973 and Lyon won 2-1 at Anderlecht.

Teenager Floyd Samba scored twice in his first-team debut to help Manchester City beat second-division Norwich 5-0 in the English League Cup.

Allan, a 22-year-old Brazilian forward, also marked his first City game with a goal, netting early in the second half as Enzo Maresca’s team advanced to a fourth-round matchup against Brighton. Rayan Cherki also scored.

Another teenager, the 18-year-old forward Ryan McAidoo, finished the rout in the final minute for the defending League Cup champions.

Real Betis continued its flying start to the Spanish league season with a 1-0 victory over Getafe.

Abde Ezzalzouli scored at the end of the first half after a video review confirmed he didn’t handle the ball in the build-up. He connected on a low shot from the center of the box following a cross from Troy Parrott.

Parrott came close with a long-distance attempt from the middle of the pitch. Getafe goalkeeper David Soria was busy throughout and tipped Antony’s low shot to the post.

Getafe's Mario Martin was sent off late in the game after receiving the second yellow card.

The victory lifted Betis level on points (15) with second-place Real Madrid. Barcelona is on top with 18 points.

Villarreal beat winless Malaga 3-1 to record its first victory of the season.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Manchester City's Floyd Samba celebrates after scoring first goal during the third-round English League Cup soccer match between Manchester City and Norwich City in Manchester, England, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson

Juventus' Nick Woltemade, right, scores during the Europa League soccer match between Juventus and NEC in Turin, Italy, Thursday Sept. 17, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/Lapresse via AP)

Crystal Palace's Yeremy Pino celebrates scoring their side's first goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Crystal Palace and Lech Poznan in London, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Bournemouth players celebrate with the fans after defeating Real Sociedad 2-1 in their first ever Europa League soccer match in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Real Sociedad and AFC Bournemouth in San Sebastian, Spain, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Hoffenheim's fans chant slogans during a Europa League opening phase soccer match between OFI and Hoffenheim, in Heraklion, on the southern island of Crete, Greece, Thursday, Sept 17, 2026. (InTime Sports via AP)

OFI's Aitor Cantalapiedra, second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during a Europa League opening phase soccer match between OFI and Hoffenheim, in Heraklion, on the southern island of Crete, Greece, Thursday, Sept 17, 2026. (InTime Sports via AP)

OFI's Aitor Cantalapiedra, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during a Europa League opening phase soccer match between OFI and Hoffenheim, in Heraklion, on the southern island of Crete, Greece, Thursday, Sept 17, 2026. (InTime Sports via AP)

Brentford's Kevin Schade is challenged by Bournemouth's Tyler Adams, left, and Rayan during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Brentford in Bournemouth, England, Saturday Sept. 12, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)