Home : Celebrity Justice : CHP: Brandy Should Be Prosecuted for Fatal Crash

CHP: Brandy Should Be Prosecuted for Fatal Crash

Posted Jan 29th 2007 5:00PM by TMZ Staff

UPDATE: TMZ has obtained photos of the horrifying aftermath of Brandy's car crash.

The California Highway Patrol has recommended that singer-actress Brandy be prosecuted for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. A CHP source tells TMZ his department has ruled out mechanical malfunction as the cause of the crash. The source adds that the CHP believes Brandy "was just going too fast" and "was the person at fault."

If convicted, Brandy could face one year in L.A. County Jail and a $1,000 fine.

TMZ broke the story that Brandy was involved in a wreck on a Los Angeles freeway on December 30, 2006. The accident claimed the life of 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj. An eyewitness tells TMZ Brandy was traveling at around 65 miles per hour but did not stop when traffic in front of her slowed. Brandy's vehicle struck the vehicle in front of her and triggered a four car crash. There is no evidence of drugs or alcohol and Brandy was not arrested.

A CHP rep tells TMZ that although his department believes Brandy's negligence caused the crash, he does not believe the accident was caused by gross negligence. If officials found gross negligence, Brandy could be prosecuted for felony manslaughter.

The case has now been referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney's office for review.

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1. There's no way that Brandy can be charged with manslaughter for a mistaken accident. If she is, then I DEMAND that Lane Garrison also be CHARGED. He did the same thing recently. Equal justice, RIGHT??

Posted at 2:24PM on Jan 29th 2007 by BRANDY SUPPORTER

2. There's no way that Brandy should be charged for a mistaken accident. If she is then I DEMAND that Lane Garrison also be charged with Manslaughter. He did the same thing recently. Equal Justice??!!

Posted at 2:33PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Brandy Supporter

3. It is just so sad. Has she left her house since? Wow, she has got to be devistated. Poor girl, go on Oprah and tell your story. Should be interesting to see what happens.

Posted at 2:28PM on Jan 29th 2007 by joe carle

4. Misdemeanor. Damn. A four? car accident and death caused by her?????????

Posted at 2:28PM on Jan 29th 2007 by jules

5. Brandy is so pretty!

Posted at 2:33PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Love

6. Brandy stay strong. My condolences to the family that has lost a loved one.

Posted at 4:09PM on Jan 29th 2007 by SMILEY

7. There's no way that Brandy should be charged for a mistaken accident.
If so, then I DEMAND that Lane Garrison also be charged for doing the same thing recently. EQUAL JUSTICE??!!

Posted at 2:31PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Brandy Supporter

8. She should NOT be prosecuted if she was not drunk or stoned. If that is the case, it was an accident. Any one of us could easily be in her position.

I'm not a Brandy fan either - never have been.

Posted at 3:20PM on Jan 29th 2007 by century

9. She was probably blabbing away on her cellphone and not paying attention to the road.
They should check her cell phone records.

Posted at 2:35PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Christina

10. I'm sure nothing will come of it. She's black.

Posted at 3:20PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Brother Harold. S.J.

11. Well, she's never denied her fault and she's waited until the law decided what to do about it. What else is there to say? Maybe she'll get the usual Hollywood preferential treatment, maybe not.

And i agree with Brandy Supporter, her sentence should NOT be as severe as Lane Garrison, he was drunk off his ass!

Posted at 3:13PM on Jan 29th 2007 by FED THE HELL UP

12. The incident with Lane Garrison is not quite the same. He was ACTUALLY DRUNK! That is, if the news accounts were correct.

And I agree, if she goes down, HE SHOULD GO DOWN!

Posted at 2:48PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Tony

13. I feel so bad about this crash because it was obviously just an accident and that stretch of freeway is really dangerous. But it's apparent she was negligent because she must not have been watching the road for whatever reason. As far as Lane Garrison, he'll be charged with much, much worse I'm sure.

Posted at 3:37PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Jimmy

14. She should be charged with vehicular manslaughter because that is the case. Had she been a regular citizen and not a celebrity, there would be no question as to what charge she should face.

I'm quite sure she's deeply saddened by what happened, but the law is the law, and she is not above it. Nor is any other celebrity.

I feel that her sentence should be probation and a monetary compensation to the family. I don't think she should serve any jail time as I believe this was truly an accident.

Posted at 4:14PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Traycee

15. She shouldn't be charged???? I hope you meant they should take everything into consideration, maybe just a fine and not even much else.
But not charge her at all??? This isn't a game of "what about him/her.

Posted at 3:27PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Puh der Baer

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