A suspected drunk driver traveling the wrong direction collided with a Metro bus in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles on September 15, 2026, around 5:00 p.m. The crash near the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue set off a chain of events that ended with a news helicopter going down two hours later, bringing the total number of fatalities to five.
The vehicle, believed to be under the influence of alcohol, entered the roadway against traffic and struck a Metro bus carrying passengers. First responders arrived quickly at the scene to tend to the injured and secure the area. The collision caused significant damage to the bus and resulted in several deaths, though officials have not released a separate count for the bus crash alone. Police opened an investigation into the suspected DUI driver and the circumstances that led to the wrong‑way entry.
NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 dispatched news helicopters to the crash site to film the aftermath. While attempting to capture footage of the scene, the helicopter piloted by the news crew lost control and crashed roughly two hours after the initial bus collision. The crash claimed the lives of the crew members aboard, adding to the death toll from the earlier incident.
Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration are conducting parallel investigations into the two tragedies. The LAPD is focusing on the alleged impaired driver, while the FAA is examining the helicopter’s flight path, weather conditions, and any mechanical issues that may have contributed to the accident. The incidents have left several families in the Chatsworth area mourning multiple losses within a short span of time and have prompted community leaders to call for increased safety measures on the city’s roadways and in aerial news coverage.
The combined events underscore the rapid succession of emergencies that can affect a single neighborhood, and authorities continue to gather evidence to determine the full cause of each crash.