Woman charged in crash NBC helicopter was covering brought to court on gurney

SAN FERNANDO, LOS ANGELES: Bailee Lynn Rios, the woman accused of crashing her SUV into a Los Angeles Metro bus and killing two people, appeared in court Friday, September 18, but did not enter a plea.

The 36-year-old was brought to the San Fernando courthouse by ambulance on a gurney as she continued to recover from injuries suffered in the crash.

Bailee Lynn Rios arrives at court on a gurney

Rios was seen arriving at the courthouse strapped to a gurney and with black eyes. Her arraignment was postponed again after a judge determined she was not medically fit to proceed. Rios is now scheduled to return to court on Monday, barring any further medical issues.

New bystander video also showed her bloodied and still inside her badly damaged SUV shortly after Tuesday’s crash, as witnesses tried to help her.

Firefighters eventually removed Rios from the vehicle and she was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Prosecutors allege Rios was under the influence when she drove her Ford Expedition the wrong way down De Soto Avenue at a high rate of speed, ran a red light at Nordhoff Street and slammed into a Metro Line 166 bus.

The impact sent the bus into a utility pole. One passenger was ejected and another was pinned inside the wreckage.

Gage Weida and Daniel Castillo remembered by families

The crash killed 31-year-old Gage Weida and 46-year-old Daniel Castillo, while several others were injured.

Castillo’s family and friends attended Friday’s hearing as the case moved forward without an arraignment.

“He was all about family,” Castillo’s cousin Francis Sandoval said. “His family was everything to him.”

Weida’s father, Jeff Weida, said his son had simply been on his way to work at Buffalo Wild Wings.

“Gage was just doing what he does,” he said. “He was going to work at Buffalo Wild Wings, going to work and wrong place wrong time.”

Weida’s father and girlfriend also attended a vigil Thursday night in Chatsworth honoring victims of the Metro bus crash and the local news helicopter crash that happened while crews were covering the collision.

“He was everything to me,” Weida’s girlfriend, Autumn Reiff, said tearfully.

Bailee Lynn Rios faces murder and DUI charges

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Rios with two counts of second-degree murder, DUI, and reckless driving.

Rios’ family has also spoken publicly about the case. Her mother told NBC4 that she was saddened by what happened and hoped everyone affected would receive the help they needed. Her father briefly told NBC4, “She’s a beautiful girl,” before leaving.

A family friend said addiction had played a major role in Rios’ life in recent years.

Rios’ bail remains set at $4.03 million, and she faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The continued delay has also added to the frustration surrounding the case, with one victim’s family publicly criticizing the fact that Rios has yet to be arraigned.