Full Breakdown
Two Killed and Six Injured in Chatsworth Metro Bus-SUV Collision, Followed by Helicopter Crash
By Drooid · · How we work
Fatal Bus-SUV Collision in Chatsworth
On Tuesday evening, a Ford sport-utility vehicle struck the left side of a Metro bus traveling on the 166 line to Sun Valley at the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles. The SUV entered the bus’s passenger compartment, leaving a large breach in the vehicle’s side. Witnesses reported the SUV swerved into oncoming traffic, ran a red light and collided with the bus at high speed.
Immediate Response and Casualties
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel reported that eight patients were treated at the scene, including two people who were pronounced dead on site. Six additional victims were transported to area hospitals; four of those injuries were described as minor. Approximately 60 firefighters were dispatched to extricate trapped occupants and remove the damaged SUV from the bus. Metro Police initially announced a third fatality but later corrected the count to two deaths.
Official Reactions
Mayor Karen Bass expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, urging the community to keep those affected in their thoughts. Metro Police and the Los Angeles Fire Department provided updates on the evolving casualty figures and the ongoing investigation, noting that the precise cause of the crash remains under review.
Subsequent Helicopter Crash
Roughly two hours after the bus-SUV collision, a news helicopter operated by NewsChopper 4 crashed in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue, also in Chatsworth. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed three fatalities: the pilot, a reporter on board, and a person who was on the ground prior to the crash. The helicopter accident occurred near the site of the earlier bus collision, adding further tragedy to the evening’s events.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My heart certainly goes out to the family and friends of all of those that we lost...this is a heartbreaking night for our city,” — Mayor Karen Bass