Celebrity Justice
CHP: Brandy Should Be Prosecuted for Fatal Crash

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 Celeb Car Crashes: Click to see photosAngeles City Attorney's office for review.



Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 22) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. OJ was proven to be innocent, you dumb-ass cracker! The RACIST LA cops tried to set his ass up but they failed. OJ has to spend a sh*t load of money to get justice but he got it. They beat Rodney Kings ass like a dog, did you all forget that sh*t!! And that sh*t only came out because it was caught on tape. Think about all the sh*t they got away with before that. No, no, no, I will never stop my fight against RACISM!!! NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!!!

Posted at 3:57PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Farrah

32. Wow, it's really pathetic that this farrah chick has no life. She might need some prozac. As for brandy I feel bad for her. But she might of not been paying attention. she might have been playing with a cell phone or the radio..who knows? She does need to be held accountable though.

Posted at 3:16PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Get a grip

33. Brandy was probably eating and talking on her cell phone when the accident occured.Just look at her picture in this posting,SHE LOOKS GUILTY

Posted at 3:17PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Webb Kopp

34. My guess is that she'll be charge court fees and forced to do a PSA. Then some how her reps will turn this into a chance for her to get back into the lime light. I hate these double standards the systems has. Where was my news report when I got in trouble. They threw the damn book at my face. I say we should stop this special treatment. If you do something wrong then you should be punished by the same standards as all of us. Mother F'ers

Posted at 4:39PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Josh

35. Let's face it if you are RICH and a STAR you can get away with anything. She and all the others who kill or break the law should go to jail and learn a lesson.

Posted at 1:39PM on Jan 30th 2007 by Dr. Spaz

36. What if she was playing with her cell phone or doing something she shouldn't of been doing? then what?

Posted at 3:22PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Get a grip

37. hating it for her ,but

Posted at 4:45PM on Jan 29th 2007 by sorry charlie

38. LETS NOT PLAY THE RACE CARD. TOTAL SH*T! SOMEONE WAS KILLED DUE TO HER NEGLIGENCE AND SHE NEEDS TO PAY FOR THAT. SO DOES LANE. GOOD PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE THE DRIVERS WERE NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE CELEBRITY OR NOT, THEY CAUSED SOMEONES DEATH AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. BUT PLEASE DONT BRING HER RACE INTO IT, THAT IS JUST PLAIN BULLSH*T AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THAT BEING USED ALL THE TIME. GET OVER IT.

Posted at 3:23PM on Jan 29th 2007 by KARI

39. Even though Brandy is a Hollywood Rich ..No she had the decency to Stand up to the plate and say she was at fault..most wouldn't do that...so I say give her the fine probation no jail time and pay off the civil suit that will probably come up next if already hasn't ..she seems like a nice lady and that she will do the right thing...and she does have to live with this the rest of her life and to be honest I think for her and her character that is punishment enough after all she seems to have a heart and she seems to be a decent person..and by the way I'm white so no racial remarks :)

Posted at 3:24PM on Jan 29th 2007 by lyiea1

40. Hey Brothers and Sisters- Get out your riot gear!!

Posted at 3:28PM on Jan 29th 2007 by SKITTLES

41. LETS NOT PLAY THE RACE CARD. TOTAL SH*T! SOMEONE WAS KILLED DUE TO HER NEGLIGENCE AND SHE NEEDS TO PAY FOR THAT. SO DOES LANE. GOOD PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE THE DRIVERS WERE NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE CELEBRITY OR NOT, THEY CAUSED SOMEONES DEATH AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. BUT PLEASE DONT BRING HER RACE INTO IT, THAT IS JUST PLAIN BULLSH*T AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THAT BEING USED ALL THE TIME. GET OVER IT.

Posted at 3:44PM on Jan 29th 2007 by KARI

42. sHE WILL GET 1 YEAR IN PRISON . THE JUDGE WILL REDUCE IT TO 6 MONTHS IN PRISON AND A $50,000 FINE.

Posted at 3:42PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Webb Kopp

43. If she was talking on her celphone or messing with the radio then she should be charged. If she just had a momentary brain fart, then no.

Posted at 3:32PM on Jan 29th 2007 by wlord

44. All you whiners boo-hooing in support of Brandy need to shut your mouths. So, she wasn't drunk-big deal, as if being sober or drunk matters; what type of logic is this anyway. And you idiots trying to make this a racial thing-are ignorant morons. And you fools that maintain all of us have lost our focus at one time or another, is another baseless idiotic claiml; for one thing, if you have your ass in the car, it's you're responsibility to focus and control your weapon at all times. this type of claim is baseless. Maybe we should just give Brandy a pass because she's black and obviously has had an underprivileged upbringing, which accounts for her inability to function as a normal human in a mixed-race society? Brandy caused the accident because she is an over-indulged, selfish sbu-human; the fact that she's a so-called talent and celeb is why all of her air-headed "fans" are trying to give her a pass and excuse her inexcusable criminal behavior. She takes the life of another person and at best all she'll be looking at is one lousy year in jail and a $1,000 fine? She killed someone because of her carelessness. Saying the word sorry won't bring the poor innocent victim back to life. I hope the family of the forgotten victim goes after this punk and ruins her financially for life, which is more than Brandy deserves. At least Brandy will still be able to walk, talk and breath with her family and friends-unlike the innocent victim she didn't care about killing. Accidents happen because those who cause them are stupid, selfish, disrespectful of others, wreckless and unstable. Anyone who causes an accident that injures, mames or murders deserves the same fate as they caused to their victim(s).

Posted at 4:47PM on Jan 29th 2007 by TH

45. If you read it clearly, it says the investigator believes she should be charged with a MISDEMEANOR count (not felony) of vehicular manslaughter WITHOUTH gross negligence. If she is charged with anything at all, I think this would be the correct one. She could be sentenced to one year in county jail, but I doubt that will happen. Not many people are sentenced to that for this charge. This was a horrible, unfortunate accident. She was not speeding, drunk, or using drugs. It also says that investigators believe she was not distracted by anything.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20010163,00.html

The California Highway Patrol has concluded its investigation into the Dec. 30 crash involving Brandy – and is recommending that the R&B singer be charged with a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, according to CHP spokesman Leland Tang.

The CHP made its recommendation to the Los Angeles City Attorney's office Monday morning. If charged and convicted, the 28-year-old former Moesha star, whose full name is Brandy Norwood, could face up to 1 year in county jail.

"We know that Brandy's at fault for the chain reaction of the collision," Tang tells PEOPLE.

Tang adds that the investigation found there were no indicators that Brandy was distracted at the moment she rear-ended the 2005 Toyota being driven by Awatef Aboudihaj, who died the evening after the crash at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

The LA City Attorney will review the case and decide whether to officially file the charge against her.

Brandy's rep had no comment.

Posted at 3:42PM on Jan 29th 2007 by al h.

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