At least three people were killed when a news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening near the scene of an earlier bus collision that left two people dead, authorities said.
Both incidents occurred in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley, marking what Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described as a devastating day for the city.
NBC Los Angeles confirmed that the aircraft involved in the crash was its NewsChopper.
KNBC anchor Colleen Williams identified two of those killed as reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw. Authorities said at least three people died in the helicopter crash, but the identity of the third victim was not immediately disclosed.
The helicopter went down near the site of an earlier fatal bus collision in Chatsworth that killed two people.
Speaking at a news conference late Tuesday, Bass described the events as “a heartbreaking night for our city.”
“I’m absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight,” Bass said in a statement. “My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash.”
The mayor also thanked emergency personnel for their rapid response and urged members of the public to stay away from the area while authorities continued their work at the scene.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding both the helicopter crash and the bus collision are continuing.
