A fatal Metro bus collision was followed hours later by a news helicopter crash nearby, deepening grief across the community.
CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Families and residents are mourning five people killed in two crashes Tuesday after a violent collision involving a Metro bus was followed by the crash of a news helicopter covering the scene less than two hours later.
The first crash killed Metro passengers Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31, and injured five other people. Prosecutors have charged SUV driver Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, with two counts of second-degree murder, driving under the influence of a drug causing injury and reckless driving. A separate federal investigation is examining the helicopter crash, which killed three people.
Los Angeles police said the chain of events began shortly after 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue. Investigators allege Rios drove a 2004 Ford Expedition south in the northbound lanes of De Soto Avenue at high speed, ran a red light and struck an in-service Metro Line 166 bus. The force of the collision ejected one passenger and partially ejected another, police said.
Castillo and Weida were pronounced dead after the collision. One person suffered serious injuries, while others taken to hospitals had injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The bus driver was among those injured. Rios also was taken to a hospital before she was arrested.
The deaths quickly became personal for families and neighbors. Weida’s relatives said he was on his way to work when the bus was struck. His family described him as kind, caring and selfless. Relatives had planned to visit him for his birthday but instead began making plans to mourn his death. Castillo’s family described the father of four as a devoted relative and enthusiastic Dodgers, Cowboys and Lakers fan who often cooked at family gatherings.
Hundreds of people gathered Thursday at St. John Eudes Church in Chatsworth for a vigil honoring those killed in both crashes. The gathering reflected how two separate investigations had become part of one period of mourning for the northwest San Fernando Valley community.
The second tragedy occurred as a television news helicopter was covering the aftermath of the bus collision. The aircraft crashed nearby, killing the pilot, the journalist aboard and a person on the ground. Two other people were injured. Federal aviation investigators are examining what caused the aircraft to go down, and no final cause has been announced.
The two crashes are being investigated through separate processes. Local authorities and prosecutors are handling the criminal case stemming from the bus collision, while federal investigators are responsible for determining the cause of the helicopter crash. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors would review the federal findings and consider whether any legal connection exists between the two cases. He said no such determination has been made.
In the bus case, Hochman said investigators found narcotics in Rios’ SUV and determined that she had drugs in her system. Authorities have not publicly identified the specific drugs or released a completed chemical analysis. Prosecutors allege she was impaired when the collision happened. Rios is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in court.
The investigation has also focused attention on the passengers and workers who were aboard the bus during an ordinary evening trip. Metro officials said the crash affected riders and employees and emphasized the consequences that dangerous driving can have for people using public transportation. The collision occurred while the bus was in service and carrying passengers through Chatsworth.
Rios was expected to be arraigned Friday in a San Fernando courtroom after a planned Thursday appearance was delayed by a medical event. Meanwhile, the federal investigation into the helicopter crash remains open, leaving families and the Chatsworth community awaiting answers from two separate inquiries that began with the same deadly evening.
Author note: Last updated September 18, 2026.