Two Killed, Six Injured in Chatsworth Metro Bus Collision (Updated September 17)

UPDATE September 17, 2026: The SUV driver has been arrested and identified as Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley. The victims have also been identified as Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31. J&Y Law extends its deepest condolences to the families of Daniel Castillo and Gage Weida during this very difficult time. 

LOS ANGELES, CA – Two people were killed and six others were taken to hospitals Tuesday after a Ford SUV struck the side of a Metro bus in Chatsworth. The collision occurred shortly after 5 p.m. near Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue, where the bus was crossing the intersection on its regular route.

Los Angeles firefighters arrived to find occupants trapped in the damaged vehicles. The department’s final patient count listed eight people involved: two who died at the scene and six who were transported for medical care. About 60 firefighters participated in the rescue and treatment operation.

Four of the surviving patients had injuries described as minor. Authorities did not release the names of the people who died or provide detailed conditions for the other two hospitalized patients. Early public accounts briefly listed a third death, but officials later corrected the total to two.

The public patient tally did not specify how many of the six people taken to hospitals had been riding on the bus and how many were in the SUV. It also did not identify the position of either person who died. Those details remained with the police investigation as medical crews completed the transports.

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SUV Struck Driver’s Side of Bus in Chatsworth

Images from the scene showed the front of the SUV lodged in a large opening on the driver’s side of the bus. One person was found outside the vehicles, although investigators had not determined publicly whether that person was ejected or had been walking nearby when the collision occurred.

A witness said the SUV entered opposing traffic before continuing through a red light and striking the bus. That witness account had not been adopted as a final finding by investigators. Officials also had not announced the SUV’s speed or explained why it entered the intersection.

Metro identified the bus as one serving Line 166, which runs between Sun Valley and Chatsworth. The agency said it was cooperating with the Los Angeles Police Department and asked people with information about the collision to contact investigators.

The bus remained upright after the impact, but the driver’s-side damage extended through the passenger compartment. The SUV’s front end was crushed at the point where it entered the bus. Firefighters worked from both vehicles during the extrication.

Chatsworth Metro Bus Accident Investigation Remains Open

The impact left extensive damage to both vehicles and forced officials to close the intersection while emergency crews extricated patients and cleared the scene. The fire department also notified the mayor’s Crisis Response Team after confirming the fatalities.

Police had not announced an arrest, citation or determination of responsibility by Wednesday morning. The available agency statements confirmed the vehicles, location and casualty count, but the sequence leading to the impact remained under investigation.