Bailee Rios pleads not guilty to murder in fatal Metro bus crash

Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and other charges during an arraignment at the San Fernando Superior Court. Rios is accused of driving an SUV under the influence of drugs at high speed and crashing into a Metro bus in Chatsworth on September 15, an incident that killed two passengers and injured several others.

The crash occurred when Rios allegedly ran a red light on De Soto Avenue, striking the side of a Metro Line 166 bus. Following the collision, authorities reportedly discovered suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside her vehicle. District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the incident as a ‘preventable tragedy’ and noted that Rios could face a maximum of life in prison if convicted.

The arraignment was delayed multiple times due to Rios’ medical condition resulting from the crash. She appeared in court on a hospital gurney and remains jailed with a $4.1 million bail. The crash also reportedly triggered a chain of events that included a subsequent helicopter crash.