Chatsworth, CA - Two Dead and Six Hospitalized After SUV Slams Into Metro Bus at Nordhoff and De Soto

Chatsworth, California (September 15, 2026) - Shortly after 5 p.m. on the evening of September 15, a Ford SUV struck the left side of a Metro bus on Nordhoff Street near De Soto Avenue. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and six were taken to area hospitals, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The fire department reported eight patients in total, with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

The bus appeared to be crossing the intersection when the SUV hit its side, sending both vehicles onto the curbside. A witness said the SUV swerved into oncoming traffic, sped through a red light, and slammed into the bus. Officials have not confirmed what led up to the crash.

Firefighters worked to extricate trapped passengers from the bus. Crews later pulled the SUV out of the bus, leaving a large hole in its side. The bus, part of Metro's Line 166 to Sun Valley, came to rest feet from a bus stop.

One of the people killed was possibly ejected from the bus and the other was killed onboard. Witnesses said the person found outside the bus may have been walking on the sidewalk just before the crash. Paramedics treated multiple patients on the sidewalk.

Just before 7 p.m., a news helicopter covering the crash went down nearby and burst into flames, killing three more people in a separate incident now under National Transportation Safety Board investigation.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, speaking near the scene Tuesday night, called it "a heartbreaking night for our city." California Governor Gavin Newsom also offered condolences and thanked first responders in a statement.

The intersection and surrounding area were shut down as the investigation continues.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

Fatal Bus Accidents in Chatsworth, California

A collision involving a public transit bus is handled differently from a crash between two private cars. Metro is a government agency, and that changes both who can be held responsible and how quickly a family must act.

Who may be liable after a bus crash like this one?

• The driver of the SUV, if investigators confirm the driver ran a red light or crossed into oncoming traffic
• The SUV driver's auto insurer, which is the first source of compensation for injured passengers and pedestrians
• The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, if the bus operator's actions, the bus's condition, or the route contributed to the injuries
• The City of Los Angeles, if signal timing or intersection design at Nordhoff and De Soto played a role

What do investigators and attorneys examine?

• The bus's onboard cameras and event data, which Metro controls and does not keep indefinitely
• Intersection signal logs and any traffic camera footage from the City of Los Angeles
• LAPD and LAFD reports, witness statements, and the SUV's airbag control module
• Whether passengers were seated, standing, or boarding when the impact occurred

Can a family pursue a claim before the investigation ends?

Yes. A civil claim runs separately from any traffic or criminal case. California follows pure comparative fault (Civil Code § 1714), so a passenger or pedestrian who bears some fault can still recover, reduced by their share.

What are the deadlines?

Under the California Government Claims Act, any claim against Metro or the City of Los Angeles must be presented within six months of the crash. That deadline is March 15, 2027. Missing it usually ends the claim against that agency permanently.

Claims against the SUV driver follow the standard two-year window. Personal injury claims must generally be filed by September 15, 2028 (CCP § 335.1). Wrongful death claims for the two people killed must also be filed by September 15, 2028 (CCP § 377.60).

Contact Our Los Angeles Bus Accident Attorneys

Two families in the Valley are planning funerals for people who got on a bus and did not make it home. Six more are sitting in hospital rooms with no idea how long recovery will take or who is going to pay for it.

Our Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers have secured a $5 million wrongful death settlement and multiple seven-figure recoveries against government agencies. Cases against Metro and the City involve strict notice rules and agency records that ordinary crash claims never touch, and we have handled both.

The bus's onboard video, the signal data at Nordhoff and De Soto, and Metro's own incident file are the evidence that will decide these claims, and Metro will not hold them forever. A written preservation demand needs to go out this week, not after the funerals are over.

You pay nothing to talk with us and nothing at all unless we recover money for you.

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Ask Us What Your Family Can Do Now at (866) 836-6588

If you were on the bus, at the stop, or lost someone who was, an injury attorney in Los Angeles from our office will review the reports with you in English or Spanish, at no cost, and explain the six-month clock before it matters.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.