Vozač koji je udario u autobus prije nesreće helikoptera optužen je za ubojstvo.

Los Angeles police confirmed that a news helicopter operated by Angel City Air crashed in the Chatsworth neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley, killing three people including NBC4 and Telemundo 52 reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground. The crash occurred Tuesday evening, shortly after an SUV collided with a city bus, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries. Dashcam footage captured the helicopter rapidly descending toward the ground before crashing and igniting a fire that spread to at least four vehicles and two storage containers. The SUV, driven by 36-year-old Bailee Lynn Rios, struck multiple vehicles before colliding with the bus. Authorities stated the vehicle was traveling the wrong way, ran a red light, and hit another vehicle before striking the bus. Rios, who was under the influence of drugs, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the bus crash. She is currently held on $4.1 million bail and is set to appear in court Friday. Her mother, Cindy Rios, expressed shock and sadness, stating she had not spoken to her daughter since her arrest and had not been contacted by law enforcement. The helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350, was broadcasting its final moments on video when it began losing altitude. The footage showed an alarm sounding inside the cockpit, followed by a woman’s voice saying “uh oh” as the helicopter moved away from the crash site. The video ends abruptly as the chopper descends toward the ground. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Fabian Salazar noted that the video provides crucial evidence, indicating possible engine failure and a drop in rotor speed. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti suggested the pilot attempted an emergency maneuver using wind to restart the rotor. The NTSB is investigating both the helicopter crash and the earlier bus collision. Moreno and Marciniw were employees of Angel City Air, providing aerial coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52. Moreno, originally from Orange County, joined the company in 2010. Family members of the bus crash victims, including Daniel Castillo’s daughter Johaunna Castillo, described their loved ones as caring individuals who brought joy and positivity to those around them. A vigil was planned to honor the victims of both tragedies. The crash site remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine the exact cause of the helicopter’s descent. The incident highlights the complex chain of events that unfolded in a single afternoon, impacting multiple lives and prompting ongoing legal and safety reviews.