WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER LA BUS CRASH AS NEWS HELICOPTER CRASHES NEARBY

Police in Los Angeles arrested a woman on murder charges after a sports utility vehicle hit a Metro bus on Tuesday, killing two people, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Hours later, a television news helicopter reporting on the crash went down nearby in Chatsworth, killing the reporter on board, the pilot and a pedestrian, according to local authorities. Police named the driver as Bailee Lynn Rios. NBC4 identified those killed in the helicopter crash as its reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and pedestrian Edy Gutierrez Mejia.

Police said the sports utility vehicle, a 2004 Ford Expedition, was travelling the wrong way on De Soto Avenue when it ran a red light at Nordhoff Street, according to NBC4. The SUV narrowly missed one vehicle before striking an eastbound Metro Line 166 bus, becoming partially embedded in it and ejecting at least one passenger, reports said. Medical personnel said some injuries were severe crushing injuries, while others were less serious. Emergency responders took six injured people to hospital, including Rios, police said. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner named the two people who died in the bus crash as Daniel Castillo and Gage Weida.

Rios was held on $4 million bail, and prosecutors are expected to decide on charges that police said could include reckless driving, running a red light and driving under the influence. The National Transportation Safety Board said it will lead the investigation. NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams confirmed live on air that the aircraft belonged to the station. Former helicopter pilot Zoey Tur said helicopter crash footage appeared to capture a low rotor RPM warning horn, followed by the engine revving down.