Three people dead after news helicopter crashes in Los Angeles area

CHATSWORTH, Calif. (KESQ) -Three people are dead after a news helicopter crashed while covering a fatal SUV-bus crash in the LA suburb of Chatsworth.

One of the people killed was on the ground, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The other two people killed were in the helicopter, "LA Live News Tonight'' reported.

NBC4 confirmed on air that it was their helicopter.

A person taken to a hospital was a worker at a warehouse near the site of the helicopter crash who was in the parking lot at the time of the crash, who was "shaken up more emotionally than physically,'' according to "LA Live News Tonight.''

“The helicopter itself, it’s pretty well destroyed, so we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board as well as identify the helicopter,” LA Fire Department Captain Branden Silverman said.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the helicopter that crashed was from a television station. NBC4 reported it was unable to make contact with its helicopter crew, which was covering the collision between an SUV and Metro bus near the site of the helicopter crash that left three dead.

The crash caused a fire as it appeared to land near several vehicles and two large cargo containers, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement. Videos from the scene show thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the site of the crash.

Federal investigators are on their way to the scene.

The helicopter crash happened two hours before an SUV slammed into the side of a Metro bus, killing two people and injuring six others. Officials confirmed three people died and five others were injured in that collision.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.