On September 24, 2026, a female driver employed by Los Angeles Metro entered a courtroom in Los Angeles and entered a not‑guilty plea to a murder charge stemming from a collision with a Metro bus in the neighborhood of Chatsworth. The crash resulted in two deaths and five injuries, and the judge set her bail at $4.1 million, keeping her in detention pending further proceedings.
The incident occurred when the driver’s vehicle struck a Metro bus traveling along a major thoroughfare in Chatsworth. Emergency responders reported that two passengers on the bus were pronounced dead at the scene, while five other individuals sustained injuries of varying severity. Authorities transported the injured to local hospitals for treatment, and the two fatalities were identified by police officials.
Following the investigation, prosecutors filed a murder charge against the driver, a relatively rare escalation in a traffic‑related case. In the arraignment, the defendant formally denied the charge, maintaining a not‑guilty stance. The court responded by imposing a $4.1 million cash bail, a figure reflecting the seriousness of the allegations and the potential risk of flight, and ordered that she remain in custody until the next hearing.
The driver’s affiliation with Los Angeles Metro was confirmed, though no additional details about her employment history were disclosed during the hearing. The case now moves forward through the criminal justice system, where further evidence will be examined and additional court dates scheduled.
Legal analysts noted that the murder charge indicates prosecutors believe intent or extreme negligence contributed to the deaths, but the courtroom proceedings will determine the ultimate outcome based on the evidence presented.