Woman arrested, 2 victims ID'd in violent crash involving SUV that slammed into Metro bus in Chatsworth

CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A woman was arrested in connection with a crash involving an SUV that slammed into a Metro bus in Chatsworth, killing two people.

The suspect, described as a female driver, was in the process of being booked Wednesday morning for her alleged involvement in the crash, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed.

Two people were killed in the violent wreck, which happened shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday on Nordhoff Street near De Soto Avenue.

The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s office identified the two victims as Gage Weida, 31, and Daniel Castillo, 46.

The Metro bus was crossing the intersection when it was apparently T-boned by the SUV, sending both vehicles onto the curbside.

A witness told Eyewitness News the SUV swerved into oncoming traffic, sped through a red light and slammed into the side of the bus.

Paramedics were seen treating multiple patients on the sidewalk. The Los Angeles Fire Department said there were eight total patients. Of the injured, six people were taken to area hospitals, and two were pronounced dead at the scene.

LAFD said four of the people who were hurt suffered minor injuries. At least 60 firefighters responded to the scene.

One of the people killed was possibly ejected from the bus, and the other was killed onboard. Though, witnesses said the victim found outside of the bus may have been walking on the sidewalk just before the crash.

Around two hours after the deadly bus crash, an NBC4 news helicopter crashed in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue, near the site of the bus collision. Three people were confirmed dead at that scene, according to LAFD, including one person who was on the ground before the crash, the helicopter pilot and a reporter.