# Driver charged with murder after bus crash, helicopter follows

> An impaired driver killed two bus riders; a news helicopter covering the crash then crashed, killing three more.
- Title: Driver charged with murder after bus crash, helicopter follows
- Summary: An impaired driver killed two bus riders; a news helicopter covering the crash then crashed, killing three more. A single incident spiraled into a double…
- Keywords: bailee lynn rios, los angeles, bus crash, helicopter crash, murder charges, impaired driving, daniel castillo, gage weida, george marciniw, eliana moreno, edy gutierrez mejia, nathan hochman
- Source: ABC7 Chicago — https://abc7chicago.com/post/los-angeles-california-crash-news-district-attorney-police-expected-speak-thursday-deadly-bus-helicopter-crashes/19844333
- Published: 2026-09-17T19:50:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bailee lynn rios, los angeles, bus crash, helicopter crash, murder charges, impaired driving, daniel castillo, gage weida, george marciniw, eliana moreno, edy gutierrez mejia, nathan hochman
## Driver charged with murder
Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, was speeding and under the influence when her Ford Expedition swerved into oncoming traffic, ran a red light, and hit a Los Angeles city bus on Tuesday.
## Two bus riders killed
Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31, died in the bus collision. Rios faces two counts of second-degree murder for their deaths.
## News helicopter crashes while covering incident
A TV news helicopter covering the bus collision crashed moments later, killing pilot George Marciniw and reporter Eliana Moreno on board, plus a man on the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia.
## Fire spreads after helicopter impact
The helicopter caught fire after impact, and at least four cars and two storage containers burned in the aftermath.
## Rios held on high bail
Rios was being held on 4.1 million dollars bail and scheduled to appear in court Friday. The public defender's office had not confirmed representation.
## Key takeaway

A single incident spiraled into a double tragedy when a drug-impaired driver caused a bus collision that a news helicopter was covering, only for that helicopter to crash moments later.