Caitlyn Jenner Will Not Be Charged With Manslaughter After Fatal Crash
After authorities initially indicated that Caitlyn Jenner could face jail time in connection with a fatal car crash in Malibu earlier this year, the Los Angeles County District Attorney has decided not to press any charges against the reality star.
TMZ reports that the D.A.'s office revealed this week that although Jenner was the one to rear-end the car driven by 69-year-old Kim Howe -- which was then pushed into oncoming traffic, killing Howe at the scene -- there was no concrete evidence pointing to Jenner's sole blame for the February incident. A report from the D.A. obtained by TMZ stated that Jenner was traveling below the speed limit, used her brakes, and was not overly-negligent; for those reasons, the office said it "cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [Jenner's] conduct was unreasonable," and would not be charging her with a crime.
Reports from earlier this summer suggested that Jenner could face a vehicular manslaughter charge for her role in the crash. The "I Am Cait" star could have spent a year in jail if charged and convicted.
"We believed from the start that a thorough and objective investigation would clear Caitlyn of any criminal wrongdoing," said Blair Berk, Jenner's attorney, in a statement to TMZ. "We are heartened the District Attorney has agreed that even a misdemeanor charge would not be appropriate. A traffic accident, however devastating and heartbreaking when a life is lost, is not necessarily a criminal matter."
Jenner is not out of the woods completely, however: Howe's family has filed a civil suit against Jenner, as has another driver injured in the incident. Both suits are still pending.
[via: TMZ]
Photo credit: Getty Images