By admin 
CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A woman was arrested in connection with a violent crash involving an SUV that slammed into a Metro bus in Chatsworth, killing two people on Tuesday, authorities said.
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The driver of the SUV, identified as 36-year-old Simi Valley resident Bailee Lynn Rios, was booked on Wednesday morning and is facing two charges of suspicion of murder, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed. Her bail was set at $4.03 million.
According to Ventura County court records, Rios was convicted of misdemeanor drug possession in 2016 after pleading guilty. Records show she was charged with the same offense in 2022, but the charges were dismissed. She was, however, convicted in the same 2022 case of driving with a suspended license.
Two people were killed in the violent wreck, which happened shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday on Nordhoff Street near De Soto Avenue.
The L.A. County medical examiner’s office identified the two victims as Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46.
Weida’s family describes him as a “kind, caring, and selfless son.” They said he was on the way to work at the time of the crash.
Castillo’s daughter tells Eyewitness News he was an amazing person.
The Metro bus was crossing the intersection when it was T-boned by a gray 2004 Ford Expedition, sending both vehicles onto the curbside.
Surveillance video from a nearby business provides a glimpse into the deadly bus crash. It shows the moment of impact when the SUV sped into the side of the Metro bus.
“The impact fully ejected one passenger from the bus and partially ejected a second,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release.
A witness told Eyewitness News the SUV swerved into oncoming traffic, sped through a red light and slammed into the side of the bus.
The car reached “freeway speed” before impact, said the witness, who gave her name only as Debbie, adding that the collision generated “the loudest sound I could imagine.”
Debris from the collision also damaged a blue 2024 Honda CR-V that was stopped, facing northbound, on De Soto Avenue at Nordhoff Street, according to police.
Paramedics were seen treating multiple patients on the sidewalk. The Los Angeles Fire Department said there were eight total patients. Of the injured, six people were taken to different hospitals, and two were pronounced dead at the scene.
The LAPD said one of the passengers was severely injured and five other passengers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. At least 60 firefighters responded to the scene.
Around two hours after the deadly bus crash, an NBC4 news helicopter crashed in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue, near the site of the bus collision. Three people were confirmed dead at that scene, according to LAFD, including one person who was on the ground before the crash, the helicopter pilot and a reporter.
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Anyone with information about the bus crash is asked to contact LAPD Officer Reyes at (818) 644-8114 or Officer Lozon at (818) 644-8117, or the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division at (818) 644-8114. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877) 527-3247.
How Gage Weida and Daniel Castillo’s families are remembering their loved ones
Weida’s father shared the following statement with Eyewitness News:
“Gage was such a kind, caring, and selfless son with a heart of gold.
Heading into work and the unimaginable happens.
His mom Rachael and I, along with his brothers, sister and entire family, along with his longtime girlfriend Autumn, are still processing the loss.
Gage will be missed by many from California to his hometowns with family and friends in Iowa, Tennessee and beyond.
Our thoughts and prayers truly go out to all of the families involved. Tragic losses on so many fronts.
We appreciate the first responders and all that were there assisting at his passing.
Rest Easy Gager.”
Castillo’s daughter sent Eyewitness News the following statement, adding that a GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for his funeral.
“Our family is devastatingly heartbroken by the loss of our beloved dad, and we are still trying to process the unimaginable reality that he is no longer with us.
He was truly an amazing person who had a way of bringing laughter and light into every room he walked into. His presence made the people around him feel loved, welcomed, and cared for. He was an incredibly loving dad, son, brother, cousin, and friend. He was also the biggest Dodgers, Cowboys, and Lakers fan. The teams were always a huge part of who he was, and we will always think of him whenever we watch a game or hear anything about them. Things like him cooking at family gatherings and always making sure everybody ate, playing poker, and always spending time with family are just some of the things that made him who he was. My Dad would’ve given the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it, and I believe that that love will continue to shine through everybody he knew. He was selfless and put others first. His character was upstanding, and his love for his family was unquestionable. Above all, he was deeply loved, and he knew just how much he meant to all of us.
We wish with all our hearts that things had been different and that our family and others didn’t have to be experiencing this senseless loss. There are no words that can truly capture how much we will miss him or the space he leaves behind in our lives.
Our family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love, condolences, prayers, and support we have received during this heartbreaking time. Every message, kind word, and gesture has meant more to us than we can express.
If there is anything we hope others take away from our loss, it is to reach out to the people you love whenever you can. Tell them you love them. Call them, hug them, check in on them, and never assume you will have another opportunity. Life can change in an instant, and the people we love are the most important part of it.
Our dad brought so much love, laughter, joy, and light into our world. We are incredibly blessed to have loved him and to have been loved by him. While we wish we had more time with him, we will carry his love and the light he brought into our lives with us forever.
Thank you to everyone who continues to keep our family in their thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
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