An SUV driver named Billy Lynn Rios has been charged with murder for driving under the influence of drugs and crashing into a city bus in Los Angeles, which resulted in the deaths of two people. This crash also led to the fall of a news helicopter that was covering the incident.
Details of the Crash
According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Rios was driving at high speed and in an impaired state, moving against traffic and after running a red light, collided with the city bus. This incident occurred on September 16, 2026, in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles. In this crash, two individuals named Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Vida, 31, lost their lives.
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Rios, who is 36 years old, is currently in custody on a $4.1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday. Currently, there is no information available about his attorney, and the public defender's office has stated that no representative has been appointed for him yet.
News Helicopter Crash
After the crash, a news helicopter that was covering the incident crashed, killing both of its occupants, including pilot George Marchini and reporter Eliana Moren. Additionally, another man named Eddie Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground, was killed in this incident. Following the helicopter crash, several vehicles and two storage containers also caught fire.
Surveillance camera footage shows the helicopter descending towards the ground and moving at various angles. According to reports, an alarm inside the helicopter's cabin went off, indicating a dangerous altitude drop. Aviation safety experts stated that this alarm could have been triggered by a loss of engine power or a decrease in the main rotor speed.
Investigations into the bus crash are ongoing, and the National Transportation Safety Board continues to examine the details of the helicopter crash. Meanwhile, Daniel Castillo's daughter, Johanna Castillo, remembered her father as a hardworking and passionate person, stating that he would always call her and share his experiences on the bus. She also announced an online fundraising campaign for her father's funeral expenses.
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Source: npr.org
