Exclusive | Moment SUV smashes into LA Metro bus triggering chain reaction that saw NBC helicopter disaster
A 36‑year‑old driver, Bailee Lynn Rios, collided with a Metro bus on Nordhoff Street, killing two passengers and injuring several others. The crash prompted an NBC helicopter to fly overhead, which later crashed, killing two reporters and a pedestrian. The incident has raised questions about traffi…
The night of Tuesday, September 10, a routine evening on Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth turned into a tragedy when a 2023 SUV, driven by 36‑year‑old Bailee Lynn Rios, slammed into a Los Angeles Metro bus. The impact was severe enough to embed the SUV into the front of the bus, sending debris across the roadway and causing the bus to overturn. Two passengers aboard the bus, Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46, lost their lives in the collision, while six other individuals, including Rios herself, sustained injuries that required emergency medical attention.
Immediate Aftermath and Investigation
Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the crash. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division, led by Investigator Harvey Freeman, began gathering evidence. Early statements indicated that Rios may have been driving recklessly, running a red light, and possibly under the influence of alcohol. She was booked on a $4.03 million bail and is currently held in custody pending further investigation.
Authorities are still piecing together the exact sequence of events. Preliminary reports suggest that the SUV was traveling eastbound on Nordhoff Street when it struck the bus at approximately 5:03 p.m. The force of the collision caused the bus to flip and roll, trapping several passengers inside and complicating rescue efforts.
NBC Helicopter Involvement and Subsequent Crash
Shortly after the bus collision, an NBC Los Angeles helicopter, known as News Chopper 4, was dispatched to cover the incident. Pilot George Marciniw and reporter Eliana Moreno had been covering the scene when the helicopter entered the area. The aircraft hovered over the crash site, providing live footage of emergency crews working to extricate passengers and assess damage.
Tragically, about two hours later, the helicopter experienced a catastrophic failure. Video footage captured the aircraft shuddering and descending rapidly, ultimately crashing approximately 1.5 miles from the original bus incident. Both Marciniw and Moreno were killed in the crash. A third victim, 29‑year‑old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, was also killed when the helicopter crashed near him in a business parking lot, setting nearby cars ablaze.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the helicopter crash, battling flames that threatened surrounding structures. The incident prompted an emergency response from the Los Angeles Police Department and the City of Los Angeles, with officials expressing condolences to the families of the deceased.
Community Response and Ongoing Concerns
Local media personalities, including NBC reporter Robert Kovacik, publicly mourned the loss of their colleagues. Kovacik described the emotional toll of the events, noting that the community had been “surrounded by this tragedy” and that the city’s officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, offered support to the bereaved families.
The chain of events has sparked discussions about the safety protocols for emergency response aircraft, especially in urban environments. Questions have arisen regarding the decision to deploy a helicopter so close to a high‑traffic area and whether additional safety measures could have prevented the fatal outcome.
What Happens Next?
The Los Angeles Police Department will continue its investigation into the bus collision, focusing on determining whether Rios’ actions were indeed reckless or if other factors contributed to the accident. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified of the helicopter crash and will conduct a thorough investigation to identify the mechanical or operational failures that led to the fatal descent.
Both investigations are expected to release preliminary findings within the coming weeks. In the meantime, the city of Los Angeles is reviewing its emergency response protocols to ensure that future incidents can be handled with greater safety and efficiency.
As the community mourns the loss of five lives, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the interconnected risks present in urban traffic and emergency response operations.
"We are still in the early stages of the investigation of this fatal traffic collision. We’re still gathering information," Investigator Harvey Freeman said at the scene.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the critical need for stringent traffic safety measures and robust emergency response protocols to prevent cascading tragedies in densely populated areas.
Key points
- SUV collided with LA Metro bus, killing two passengers
- NBC helicopter dispatched to cover crash, later crashed killing two reporters
- Investigation underway for both the bus collision and helicopter accident
- Community and city officials are mourning and reviewing safety protocols
Frequently asked questions
What caused the SUV to collide with the bus?
Preliminary reports suggest the driver may have been running a red light and driving recklessly, possibly under the influence of alcohol.
Why did the NBC helicopter crash?
Investigators are examining mechanical failure and pilot error; live footage shows the helicopter shuddering before descending.
Who is being held in custody for the bus collision?
Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, has been booked on $4.03 million bail.
