A California driver accused of speeding the wrong way down a Los Angeles street before crashing into a Metro bus and killing two people has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Bailee Rios, 36, entered the plea Thursday in San Fernando court. She is charged with two counts of murder, felony driving under the influence of a drug causing injury and misdemeanor reckless driving in connection with the Sept. 15 crash in Chatsworth.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office alleges Rios was alone in an SUV and traveling at a high rate of speed on the wrong side of the road near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue shortly before the collision.
Prosecutors say she ran a red light and struck an in-service Metro bus carrying passengers. Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31, were killed, while at least five other people were injured, two critically.
Into The Bus
The crash happened at about 5 p.m. Rios had been driving an SUV on the wrong side of the road when she entered the intersection and hit the bus, according to prosecutors.
Los Angeles firefighters extricated her from the SUV before she was arrested and taken to a hospital for her injuries.
The District Attorney’s Office announced the charges two days later and requested bail of $4.1 million. Prosecutors said Rios faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole if convicted as charged.
The office also emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Rios is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A Delayed Plea
Her arraignment did not happen as initially scheduled.
Rios was transported by ambulance to the San Fernando courthouse on Sept. 18, but the proceeding was postponed after her defense cited her medical condition. Her appearance was delayed again before she ultimately entered court Thursday on a gurney, according to ABC7.
FOX 11 reported that a public defender entered the not-guilty plea on Rios’ behalf and denied the special allegations in the case.
More than 10 members of Castillo’s family attended the hearing, ABC7 reported.
Still In Custody
Rios remains jailed in lieu of $4.1 million bail.
She is scheduled to return to court Nov. 2, when a date for her preliminary hearing is expected to be set.