A pair of accidents in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, claimed five lives on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. A Metro bus was struck by a suspected drunk driver traveling the wrong way at the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue around 5 p.m., and a news helicopter that arrived to cover the scene crashed nearby at about 7 p.m.
The first collision involved a Los Angeles Metro bus that was proceeding eastbound on Nordhoff Street when a vehicle entered the intersection from the opposite direction. Police identified the oncoming driver as a suspected DUI offender. The impact caused significant damage to the bus and resulted in fatalities, though the exact number of deaths from the bus crash alone was not disclosed in the initial reports.
Following the bus incident, crews from NBC Los Angeles (NBCLA) and Telemundo 52 dispatched a news helicopter to capture footage of the aftermath. While conducting aerial coverage, the helicopter suffered a crash in the same general area. The cause of the helicopter’s descent has not been released, and investigators are reviewing the incident. The crash added to the death toll, bringing the combined total to five victims.
Authorities from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration have opened separate investigations into the two events. The suspected DUI driver remains in custody, and officials have not yet provided details on any injuries sustained by bus passengers or rescue personnel.
The back‑to‑back tragedies have left multiple families mourning the loss of loved ones and have prompted a heightened response from emergency services throughout the region. Community leaders expressed condolences, and local hospitals reported receiving several patients from both scenes. The incidents underscore the risks associated with impaired driving and the dangers faced by journalists covering emergency situations.