FIVE people have been killed in a horrifying double crash in Los Angeles with a news anchor forced to announce the death of her colleagues live.

The first tragedy unfolded after a Ford truck slammed into a Metro bus, killing two, and then an NBC news helicopter crashed while covering the deadly bus collision, killing three more.

A news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles while covering a bus crash

News reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were named as two of the tragic victims

Police have now arrested the driver of the 2004 Ford Expedition on suspicion of murder.

Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, allegedly drove the wrong way up the road and crashed into a Metro bus in Chatsworth.

Police say Rios ran a red light and nearly struck another vehicle before hitting the bus.

It plunged into the passenger vehicle with devastating impact and ended up “partially inside” the bus, according to cops.

Emergency services frantically pulled survivors from the wreckage, adding that some suffered “crushing” injuries.

An NBC news helicopter raced to the scene of the horror to cover the incident – but then fatally plunged to the ground.

The TV station’s emotional anchor fought back tears as she confirmed live on air the chopper belonged to the local outlet.

The NewsChopper4 aircraft erupted into a huge fireball on Tuesday night following the sudden plunge.

The crumpled body of the Ford truck which fatally struck the Metro bus on Tuesday

At least three people died in the horror crash

NBC Los Angeles reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw have been confirmed as two of the tragic victims.

Authorities believe the third fatality was a pedestrian on the ground, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Another person was also rushed to hospital and is in serious condition, local authorities said.

Veteran NBC4 newsreader Colleen Williams appeared teary-eyed as she confirmed it was the local outlet’s chopper that had crashed.

Aftermath of the fireball in Los Angeles

Firefighters battled the fireball in Los Angeles, California

She said: “We knew it was a news chopper. We knew we’d lost contact with our people out there, and we’ve just received confirmation.”

The journalist added: “We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, process it.”

Moments after she made the comments, the station’s coverage was suddenly cut off.

Shocking footage from the scene in Chatsworth showed the flaming wreckage near two cargo containers and several cars.

The helicopter had been covering a deadly bus crash in Chatsworth when it plunged to the ground

Colleen Williams choked up as she confirmed the news

More than 50 firefighters raced to the sprawling blaze when they arrived on site and quickly extinguished the flames.

The horror crash took place just before 7pm local time in the area of Lurline Avenue and Nordhoff Street.

NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 – another outlet that Eliana also worked for – paid respects to the late reporter.

They said: “We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening.

Firefighters at the scene of the crash on Tuesday night

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials walk to a news conference near the scene of a crash

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.”

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said it extended “thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of KNBC 4, Los Angeles”.

At the time of the deadly plunge, several news helicopters had been in the area covering a local bus crash.

Two people were killed and six were left injured after an SUV collided with a city bus in Chatsworth.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she was “absolutely devastated by the loss of life in Chatsworth tonight”.

She added: “My heart is with the families and loved ones of those we lost in the tragic bus collision and helicopter crash.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom paid tribute on X, saying: “Our hearts are with the victims and families of tonight’s devastating Metro bus and helicopter crashes in Chatsworth, and with the entire NBC4 family.

“Thank you to the first responders working tirelessly tonight.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a probe into the crash.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/17011004/nbc-helicopter-crash-kills-three-la/