Police say a wrong-way SUV blew a red light and smashed into a Los Angeles Metro bus at rush hour, killing two and injuring six.
Story Highlights
- Crash at Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue around 5 p.m. left two dead
- LAPD arrested driver Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, on suspicion of murder; bail set at $4 million
- Victims identified as Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46, by county medical examiner
- Investigators say the SUV traveled the wrong way and ran a red light into Metro Line 166
Crash Location and Timeline at a Busy San Fernando Valley Intersection
Los Angeles Police Department officials and multiple outlets reported a deadly collision shortly after 5 p.m. at Nordhoff Street near De Soto Avenue in Chatsworth. The evening rush filled roads and buses when the impact happened. Reporters on scene described a long closure as investigators worked the crash site. First responders treated multiple people and moved patients to area hospitals. Officials confirmed two deaths and six injuries linked to the wreck, which involved a Metro bus on Line 166.
Authorities and fire crews described heavy damage to the bus and difficult rescues. One passenger was fully ejected and another was partially ejected, according to early accounts from the scene. Firefighters cut into wreckage to reach trapped riders. Photos and video showed a large opening torn into the bus side, matching reports of a severe, high-energy impact. Crews treated several patients and transported the injured for further care as the intersection remained shut down.
Driver, Vehicle, and Arrest on Suspicion of Murder
Police identified the SUV as a 2004 Ford Expedition. Reporters said detectives concluded the Expedition went south in the northbound lanes on De Soto Avenue and then ran the red light at Nordhoff. The SUV struck the side of the Metro bus in the intersection. Officers arrested the driver, Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, on suspicion of murder. Jail records showed bail set at $4 million on Tuesday night, reflecting the case’s severity under California law.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the two people who died as Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46. Coverage tied the names to the bus collision based on the county office’s confirmation. Reporters also noted the broader context that the deadly bus crash came before a separate news helicopter crash nearby later that evening. That later aviation incident does not change the core facts from the roadway scene in Chatsworth.
Injury Counts, Active Review, and What Officials Are Still Working
Outlets varied slightly in describing the injury totals, with most reporting six injured and some early accounts listing up to eight. Those differences often reflect on-scene triage versus later medical confirmation. The Los Angeles Police Department stated the case was under review by the county district attorney, who will decide final charges. That sequence is standard after serious traffic deaths and follows established criminal review steps in Los Angeles County.
Wrong-way urban crashes tend to cause more deaths and serious injuries than typical wrecks. Research by the National Transportation Safety Board found 1,566 wrong-way drivers in a multiyear fatal-crash dataset, with about 60 percent showing signs of alcohol involvement. The American Automobile Association Foundation also documented a high toll from wrong-way collisions on divided highways over the last decade. These patterns explain why investigators treat wrong-way events as high-risk from the start.
Why This Matters to Commuters and Taxpayers
Los Angeles families rely on buses like Line 166 to get to work and school. A wrong-way red-light run at rush hour turns a city bus into a mass-casualty scene in seconds. That risk spans politics and neighborhoods. Riders want safe streets and reliable transit; drivers want clear signals and fair enforcement. When deadly crashes stack up, people see agencies talk about safety but struggle to stop the harm. That gap feeds wider anger at systems that feel slow and unaccountable.
Chilling Camera Footage Captures Deadly LA Metro Bus Crash | 2 Killed pic.twitter.com/pmFgiovCOu
— Econoview Newsnetwork (@EconoviewNN) September 17, 2026
Local leaders can act on concrete steps that work. Faster signal timing audits at high-volume intersections help reduce side-impact crashes. Better wrong-way detection and warning tools can alert drivers before they enter oncoming lanes. Transit data, including bus cameras and telematics, can speed fact-finding and guide fixes. Clear public updates from police, Metro, and the district attorney can also rebuild trust by showing who is responsible and what prevention comes next.
Sources:
nypost.com, vcstar.com, justthenews.com, local10.com, yahoo.com, msn.com, youtube.com, x.com
