The woman accused of crashing a Ford SUV into the side of a Los Angeles Metro bus is a convicted offender who authorities say was under the influence of drugs at the time of the deadly collision.

Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, was charged with murder on Wednesday morning and remained in custody on bail set at $4.03 million.

Rios also faces charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said she appeared to be impaired by drugs, while narcotics were allegedly discovered in her vehicle.

The mother of one had previously been convicted in Ventura County on charges of drug possession and driving with a suspended license, according to records obtained by KTLA.

“What is particularly tragic about this case is that this is a preventable tragedy,” Hochman said during a Thursday news conference.

“Ms Rios did not have to get behind the wheel impaired,” he said. “She did not have to drive on the other side of the road. She did not have to blow through the red light at full force to drive her SUV right into a Metro bus. That was all preventable.”

“She chose, and that was a choice by her, to do what she did and that choice has resulted in deadly and destructive consequences.”

Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46, were killed when the SUV struck the Los Angeles Metro bus at about 5pm Tuesday.

About two hours later, an NBC news helicopter that had arrived to capture footage of the bus wreckage crashed into a nearby parking lot and erupted in flames.

The helicopter crash killed Eliana Moreno, 38, and pilot George Marciniw, 70. Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, a tourist from Guatemala who was on the ground, also died.

Police have said Rios drove her Ford Expedition the wrong way down De Soto Avenue ‘well beyond the speed limit,’ running a red light as she plowed into the bus.

The deadly crash was caught on camera, showing how the bus veered into a utility pole, before ejecting one passenger and partially ejecting another. 

Along with Weida and Castillo, six others were injured.

A Metro spokesperson has also confirmed to KTLA that Rios was injured in the collision and was treated at a local hospital before being taken into custody. 

She now faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison, and is due in court on Friday. 

READ MORE: Amtrak Meeting Addresses Bridgeport Rate Field Facility Concerns

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department is continuing to investigate the fatal bus crash while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) probes the helicopter collision. 

The NewsChopper4 was flying over the area between two warehouses at the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue as Moreno filmed the bus crash at around 7pm on Tuesday night.

The shocking footage shows an aerial view of the bus crash and the wrecked SUV that T-boned the city bus as the whirl of the helicopter could be heard in the background.

Suddenly, the sound of the engine’s motor winds down and a horn blares – possibly warning the pilot that the main rotor speed had dropped too low.

At that point, Moreno could be heard quietly saying ‘Uh oh.’

As the angle of the camera then begins to descend and shake, the reporter could be heard asking Marciniw: ‘You can’t pull up?’

The video is now at the center of the NTSB’s investigation as authorities work to piece together what may have caused the Eurocopter AS350B2 to go down, Investigator in Charge Fabian Salazar said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

‘The video that was actually taken while the reporter was doing live coverage, that video is probably the most important evidence that we have discovered so far,’ he declared, adding that the agency will work toward obtaining a ‘pristine copy’ of the recording and send it to the agency’s lab for a sound spectrum analysis.

‘In that recording, we are clearly hearing sounds that are consistent with the engine changing its speed and we’re also hearing tones that are being generated that are likely advisories to the pilot, so it’s important that we get that recording to our lab, so that they can be downloaded and we can get to that factual evidence that way.’ 

Investigators will also gather as much data from the wreckage site as possible, Salazar said, as he urged anyone with information about the crash to reach out to the agency.

Once that portion of the investigation is complete, the helicopter will be moved to a secure facility so the agency could continue its examination and try to pull additional data from the wreckage.

The chopper’s maintenance logbooks and the weather will also be part of the investigation, and authorities will work to obtain surveillance footage from buildings near the crash scene to get a full picture of the sequence of events.

A preliminary report is expected to be completed in 30 days, but a final report listing probable cause can take up to 18 months to complete.

More than one-quarter of teams made managerial changes last winter. The turnover is unlikely to reach that level this time around, but as is typically the case, several clubs could still make moves.

Here is a look at the managers facing the most uncertainty, beginning with those under the greatest pressure. Most are expected to return for the 2027 season, whenever it starts, but history suggests it is highly unlikely that every one of them will remain in place.

1. Kurt Suzuki, Angels

Suzuki’s situation is particularly unusual: he received only a one-year contract from the previous leadership group, which promoted him from a behind-the-scenes front-office position. The organization now has a new general manager and team president, while the owner is also set to depart once the club sale is approved. Meanwhile, the Angels — remarkably the only franchise never to lose 100 games — could reach that unwanted milestone for the first time with a 4-6 finish. Interim GM John Mozeliak appears to be on firmer footing, even under new ownership. It is worth noting that incoming owner Stan Kroenke’s Rams were based in St. Louis during Mozeliak’s tenure as the Cardinals’ top baseball executive.

ALSO READ: UN General Assembly Brings Gridlock, Heavy Security to New York City

2. Andy Green, Mets interim

He has performed well, with a 35-36 record entering Thursday night, but baseball president David Stearns said from the outset that he was expected to return to the front office after the season. It is also unclear whether Green even wants the full-time role. Nothing suggests that plan has changed, so a managerial search remains the expectation. Alex Cora would be a major hire, though he is expected to favor the Phillies if their job opens because of his close relationship with Philadelphia executive Dave Dombrowski, dating to Boston’s 2018 championship. Other potential candidates include David Ross, whose bench coach in Chicago was Green, as well as Rocco Baldelli, Albert Pujols and Carlos Beltrán. The latter two would be riskier choices given the likely preference for prior MLB managing experience. Torey Lovullo, Don Mattingly and Joe Espada would also be credible options should they become available.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Amtrak is set to meet with residents Thursday as opposition grows over its proposal for a new 24-hour train maintenance facility in Bridgeport near Rate Field.

Organizers have shifted the community meeting to a larger venue in anticipation of a substantial turnout.

Residents say they want answers about potential noise, air pollution and the broader implications for the White Sox’s future in Bridgeport.

The rail service is seeking to relocate its Midwest maintenance operation from the South Loop to a mostly vacant Union Pacific rail yard in Bridgeport.

Under the plan, the facility would stretch along Canal Street between 33rd and 35th streets, directly beside Rate Field, and would remain in operation day and night.

People living in Bridgeport, Chinatown and Armour Square have voiced fears about the environmental effects of diesel train activity operating so near residential blocks.

The proposal has also revived questions about the White Sox remaining in Bridgeport, as the team’s lease at Rate Field is scheduled to expire in 2029.

A potential new White Sox stadium has been discussed for property near Amtrak’s existing maintenance site in the South Loop.

“At its current location, the 14th Street rail yard has roughly 26 residents within 500 feet. Within 500 feet of the Canal yard, there are 6,741 residents,” said 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole Lee.

“We ask that you do not sell, lease or transfer property, or provide access to any land under your control. This land belongs to the public and should be managed in the public interest,” Bridgeport resident Maria Lagiglio said.

Amtrak said it will comply with environmental requirements.

Thursday’s meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. It’s at the Carpenter Training Center at 21st and Union

An Ohio woman whose 16 children were removed from a home authorities described as being in appalling condition held her stomach during a court appearance as she entered not-guilty pleas in the case.

Elizabeth Siders, 34, appeared before a judge Wednesday on four child sexual abuse counts and 19 child endangerment charges, according to FOX 8.

Wearing an orange jail uniform, Siders repeatedly placed her hands over and held her abdomen while standing in court, The Daily Mail reported.

News Media contacted her attorney, Thomas Stolly, seeking comment on the allegations and on whether Siders may be pregnant again.

“We have an individual in Elizabeth who was married at age 15, who has essentially been pregnant for the better part of two decades,” Stolly told local media. “Who has never fully gone through any postpartum period, who has not been receiving regular medical care that would be appropriate for someone who has had 16, 18 children.

“I have concerns about what effects those have had on her.”

Siders and Gary Siders Jr. are also accused of sexually abusing a minor in 2022. The alleged victim was not one of the 16 children found at the residence, the report said.

The child, however, was under the couple’s care when the alleged abuse took place. Gary Siders Jr. has pleaded not guilty as well, though he was ruled incompetent to stand trial last week.

Siders and her husband have been ordered to have no contact. 

On Wednesday, a judge deemed Elizabeth Siders a flight risk and raised her bail from $250,000 to $550,000.

In July, investigators said they found the children — ranging in age from 17 months to 18 years old — living in deplorable conditions inside a home in Hamden.

They were initially investigating child sexual abuse allegations regarding Siders’ extended family members — Brandon Henderson, the longtime partner of Gary Siders Jr.’s sister, and Joshua Saunders, a cousin of the 16 rescued children, the FOX 8 report states.