A deadly crash involving an SUV and a Metro bus in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, left two people dead and six others hospitalized Tuesday afternoon, September 15, 2026.
The collision happened shortly after 5 p.m. near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, where emergency crews were called to a major rescue operation involving passengers trapped inside the bus.
The investigation into what caused the collision remains ongoing.
SUV and Metro Bus Collide in Chatsworth
The crash occurred in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley.
An SUV collided with the side of a Metro bus near the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue.
Images from the scene showed extensive damage to both vehicles, with the SUV heavily embedded in the side of the bus.
Firefighters were required to extricate people who became trapped following the collision.
Two People Killed
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities had not immediately released the identities, ages or other personal details of the deceased.
Six additional people were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
The severity of their injuries was not immediately available.
Major Emergency Response
The Los Angeles Fire Department sent a substantial emergency response to the crash.
Firefighters worked to free trapped passengers and assess everyone aboard the bus.
At the height of the response, dozens of emergency personnel were operating at the scene, while police shut down the intersection to allow rescue and investigative operations to continue.
The road closure was expected to remain in place while authorities processed the crash scene.
Cause of Chatsworth Crash Under Investigation
The circumstances leading to the collision have not been established.
Investigators must determine how the SUV and Metro bus came together and whether roadway, vehicle or human factors played a role.
No specific cause should be treated as confirmed while the investigation remains active.
Separate Helicopter Crash Adds to Chatsworth Tragedy
The Chatsworth crash was followed later Tuesday by a separate and deadly aviation accident nearby.
A news helicopter operated for NBC Los Angeles crashed around 7 p.m. near North Mason Avenue, close to the area where emergency crews had been responding to the earlier bus collision.
Three people were killed in the helicopter crash.
The aircraft came down between commercial buildings and caused a fire that damaged vehicles and other property on the ground. More than 50 firefighters responded to the helicopter scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the helicopter crash.
Chatsworth Crash Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California |
| Primary crash | SUV and Metro bus collision |
| Intersection | Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue |
| Date | Tuesday, September 15, 2026 |
| Approximate time | Shortly after 5 p.m. |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Hospitalized | 6 |
| Rescue operation | Trapped passengers extricated |
| Road status | Intersection closed during response |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Separate later incident | News helicopter crash nearby |
| Helicopter deaths | 3 |
Latest Update
The original Chatsworth road crash remains under investigation after two people were killed and six others were taken to hospitals.
Authorities had not initially released the identities of those killed or provided a final explanation for what caused the collision.
The later helicopter crash resulted in three additional deaths and is being investigated separately.
The two incidents produced a major emergency response across Chatsworth on Tuesday evening.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available during the developing investigation. The identities of some victims, injury conditions and precise circumstances of the road collision may be updated as authorities release additional information. The later helicopter crash was a separate incident and should not be confused with the earlier Metro bus collision.