Car Crashes

Chris Soules' fate in the fatal car crash could be determined by his cell phone ... and the stakes are high -- a possible vehicular manslaughter prosecution.

Law enforcement sources involved in the investigation tell us they're especially interested to know if Soules was a distracted driver by using his cell phone at the time of the crash. We're told law enforcement seized his phone and they will be looking at texts, photos, social media posts and his call log.

We're told Soules loved taking photos of sunsets as he drove down Iowa roads and regularly posted them on Twitter. He has now deleted his Twitter and Instagram accounts.

If it's determined Soules was using his phone at the time of the crash, our sources say a vehicular manslaughter charge is definitely on the table.

As for the charge he now faces -- the felony of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death -- our Iowa law enforcement sources say they believe he'll be prosecuted but will not be convicted.

Our sources say the fact Soules is famous works against him, because prosecutors don't want to appear soft on celebrities. Based on what our law enforcement sources tell us, here's what Soules has working for and against him.

WHY HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED

-- Soules left the scene of the accident before cops arrived. This deprived law enforcement of determining if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Fact is ... since he was in a standoff at his house for hours before he was taken to a hospital where blood was drawn, there's almost no chance of determining if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.

-- Open containers of beer were found in Soules' truck.

-- He did not provide anyone at the scene with his driver's license, proof of insurance and other relevant information.

-- He caused the accident by rear-ending the tractor.

WHY HE SHOULD NOT BE PROSECUTED

-- The 911 audio works to Soules' benefit in a significant way. He identifies himself by name and tells the dispatcher he was involved in the accident. He also administered first aid by checking the victim's pulse. It appears he left just as paramedics were arriving, so there's nothing more he could have done to aid the victim.

-- Soules sounds coherent in the 911 audio. So, even if he had a drink or 2, at least from outward appearances, he didn't seem intoxicated.

-- There were skid marks showing Soules tried braking before the crash. Also, one law enforcement source tells TMZ, based on the skid marks, it does not appear he was driving at an excessive speed.

Our sources say although they believe prosecutors will charge Soules, if the case goes to trial, "it's a loser." As one source said, "Iowa juries that understand rural life are not going to convict a guy who tries helping the victim before leaving."

Our sources believe this case will end up in civil court and Soules will settle by paying a substantial amount of money to the victim's family.

'Bachelor' Chris Soules walked away from the scene of the fatal crash, apparently called someone to pick him up and take him home, and when Sheriff's deputies got to his house he refused to come out.

We're told there were no eyewitnesses to the crash, but there were people present when Soules called 911 and they were the ones who ID'd him when he left the scene.

Law enforcement sources say 2 deputies went to Soules' family home and asked him to come out but he refused. It then took several hours for them to get a search warrant.

Our sources say when they searched Soules' pickup they found beer cans inside. We don't know if they were full or empty.

Deputies eventually arrested him and took Soules to the hospital where they drew blood to determine whether alcohol or drugs were in his system.

Our law enforcement sources say it will be virtually impossible to charge Soules with driving under the influence -- in Iowa it's called Operating While Intoxicated -- because they didn't test him until hours after the crash. The sources did say if there's an independent way of proving he was drinking just before the crash -- say in a bar -- the situation could change.

There's a buzz in the area where the accident occurred that the tractor may not have had its lights on. Someone told us the tractor didn't even have lights. Law enforcement, however, isn't sure the tractor needed lights because it was twilight at the time of the crash.

As for whether Chris could be charged with vehicular manslaughter ... law enforcement says it's way too early to tell. The investigation will take 2 weeks to a month to complete, and the results will then be forwarded to prosecutors who will make a decision.

Chris Soules called 911 at the scene of the crash before booking it ... this according to the 911 audio.

You hear a winded Soules -- who also seemed coherent -- telling the dispatcher there was an accident with a tractor and a vehicle and says the tractor driver was injured and unconscious after being thrown into a ditch.

Soules interacted with the victim, checking his pulse ... saying he felt it. Soules also said the victim was bleeding from his mouth.

The 911 audio goes on ... the dispatcher asks if anyone could administer CPR. Someone is performing CPR but it's unclear if it was Soules.

Ric Flair's fiancee, Wendy Barlow, was hospitalized after a bad car crash Tuesday night -- but the pro wrestling legend says it appears she'll be okay!!

Flair revealed the scary news around 6 PM -- saying, "Please Pray for my Fiancé who was just in a serious car wreck. She is at the Hospital."

Barlow is a former pro wrestling star who became famous as Fifi the Maid.

The good news ... Flair delivered an update Wednesday morning showing Barlow smiling in her hospital bed while wearing a neckbrace.

He added, "Wendy Will Be Ok! Thank You For All Of Your Messages And Prayers!!!!."

"The French Maid Will be Back Soon."

10:36 AM PT -- Police eventually found Soules at a residence but it took hours for them to get a search warrant ... this according to KWWL TV. It will therefore be difficult for prosecutors to prove he may have been under the influence at the time of the crash since hours passed before he was spotted.

10:10 AM PT -- We're told Chris just posted bond and will be released shortly.

7:45 AM PT -- Soules is in court now for his arraignment. TMZ has obtained documents in which police say he was in possession of alcoholic beverage containers at the time of the crash. Soules was apprehended after witnesses near the scene of the crash ID'd him and called police.

Chris is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.

'Bachelor' Chris Soules is in custody after allegedly slamming into a tractor, killing the driver and then fleeing the scene ... TMZ has learned.

The incident happened in Iowa Monday at 8:20 PM. According to docs, Chris was driving a Chevy pickup and rear ended a John Deere tractor, sending it into a ditch. The driver was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died.

Soules, who appeared on "The Bachelor" for season 19 in 2015, is in custody and we're told he received medical attention.

Soules was booked on the charge of leaving the scene with a death.

Busy day for Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue -- who found out his beloved Chevy Camaro somehow ended up in a Louisiana swamp Monday morning.

Here's the deal ... cops and a tow truck responded to Highway 90 in Des Allemands around 9 AM after a single car collision. One witness tells us, "The car was in the water."

Law enforcement tells TMZ Sports the NFL player is the owner of the car -- but he was NOT driving during the incident and was not present during the crash.

So, what happened? Unclear exactly but cops say no arrests were made and miraculously no one was seriously injured.

We reached out to Blue's reps. Waiting for a call back.

NBA superstar Isaiah Thomas says "the pain I am feeling right now is impossible to put into words" following his sister's fatal car crash.

Thomas' 22-year-old sister, Chyna, died Saturday in Tacoma, WA after her car violently slammed into a metal pole. Thomas -- who played in Game 1 and 2 of the Celtics' playoff series against the Bulls -- traveled home as the family prepares for the funeral and he's clearly grief-stricken.

He said, "I never could have imagined a day where my little sister, Chyna, wouldn't be here. She and my family are everything to me ... This has been without question the hardest week of my life."

Thomas went on to say he's overwhelmed by the love and support he's received from friends, fans, the City of Boston, the Celtics org and NBA community throughout.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Trevone Boykin was arrested in Texas AGAIN Thursday -- and it's all connected to that crazy night when a car he was riding in crashed into a bar.

As we previously reported, Boykin was still on probation on March 27 when he was arrested for public intoxication and drug possession following the car crash.

Background -- Boykin was sentenced to 1 year probation in June 2016 for fighting police officers at a San Antonio bar days before the Alamo Bowl.

Now, we've learned a warrant was issued for his arrest earlier this week because prosecutors believe his March arrest constitutes a violation of his probation.

Boykin was taken into custody at 1:35 PM on Thursday and released a few hours later on $2,500 bond. He'll be arraigned on May 3.

Former "Zoey 101" star Matthew Underwood rescued a 4-month-old baby after the infant's parents passed out on drugs and crashed their car ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us Matthew was one of the first people on the scene of a car wreck last Thursday in Port St. Lucie, FL ... where a female driver cut across 6 lanes of traffic on a busy street and crashed into a tree.

We're told she passed out at the wheel with a syringe full of heroin in her arm, with her baby daddy passed out in the back seat. Their baby was in an unsecured car seat next to the father.

According to the police report ... Matt saw the parents passed out, removed the infant -- who was not injured -- and had his brother call 911.

Matt also shot video of the scene before cops arrived. The mother later told cops she'd just bought heroin to try for the first time. The dad had a pill bottle full of Alprazolam (generic Xanax), a smoking pipe and a 2nd syringe laying next to him.

Matt tells us he decided to record the scene once he saw the parents passed out. He wanted to document the scene before he intervened in case things went south. He says he couldn't have just driven by without helping.

Both parents were booked for child neglect and drug possession. The baby was turned over to a family member.

'Harry Potter' actor Jim Tavaré is slowly recovering from the car accident that sent him to ICU for 2 weeks, and this week he got a dose of love from his pooch.

For the first time since the accident, Jim was taken outside of the hospital in a wheelchair to be reunited with his dog, Mr Kippy, who was more than ecstatic to see his master.

Mr Kippy had been in the car during Jim's head-on collision. Both miraculously survived ... the dog more unscathed than Jim, who is still mending from a broken neck and several other broken bones, as well as collapsed lungs.

He already looks better than he did weeks ago.

Vince McMahon's having a rough Tuesday ... he was in a car accident less than a mile from WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT that left his Bentley banged up.

Multiple law enforcement sources confirm McMahon was driving his black Bentley when something went wrong. Another car was involved in the crash though it's unclear exactly what happened.

Vince was seen walking around after the incident. Our sources say the whole thing was a "minor accident and everyone is okay."

As for the Bentley ... Vince can afford the repairs.

8:55 AM PT -- The Norman Police Dept. tells TMZ Sports Ross was driving at 9:33 PM when she was struck from behind by a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis.

Ross was thrown from her Vespa. Both the car and the scooter caught fire.

The driver of the Mercury was a 17-year-old male. He was not injured in the crash.

Officials say the crash is under investigation.

WWE legend Jim Ross says his wife was hit while riding her Vespa and suffered multiple skull fractures ... and now he's praying for a miracle.

We spoke with Jim who tells us he's absolutely devastated. He says Jan was riding her Vespa to the gym near their home in Oklahoma when she was struck by another vehicle.

Jim says Jan was not wearing her helmet and struck her head, causing multiple skull fractures. She was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition where she underwent surgery.

Jim says the situation is "touch and go" at the moment. Jim says he's "hanging in there. It could be a tough day."

Ross tweeted about the situation, "My wife Jan, my little angel, was hit while riding her Vespa & has multiple skull fractures. She's in surgery now. We need a miracle."

2:20 PM PT -- Ciara's rep tells TMZ, "The driver was illegally in the bus lane and hit the right side of her car."

1:44 PM PT -- Russell Wilson just let everyone know Ciara is ok, tweeting, "Momma Wilson & Baby Wilson are feeling great! God is good!"

Ciara -- who's pregnant and in her 3rd trimester -- was involved in a car crash in L.A. moments ago ... TMZ has learned.

Witnesses tell us Ciara was driving her white Mercedes SUV and was making a left turn when a grey Volvo SUV slammed into the front passenger side of her vehicle.

Police and Fire Dept. responded to the scene. We're told Ciara was clutching her chest and shoulder, but walking around and talking on her phone.

Law enforcement sources tell us Ciara and the other driver exchanged information, but neither of them was seriously injured.

Jim Tavaré -- best known for playing Tom the Innkeeper in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" -- is in ICU after suffering a broken neck and punctured lung in a nasty car accident.

The 54-year-old actor and comedian also broke 15 ribs and has fractures in his right leg and breastbone ... according to his wife, Laura ... who posted hospital pics. It's unclear where the head-on crash took place.

Laura wrote on Tuesday ... "Jim has asked me to let you all know that he was involved in a serious car accident yesterday, a head-on collision ... He’s had two blood transfusions so far and is about to go in for his first surgery.”

Jim was able to give a thumbs up. Laura hasn't posted an update on his condition.

Indianapolis Colts lineman David Parry has been formally charged with multiple felonies for allegedly beating up a taxi cart driver in AZ and stealing the vehicle ... and now prison time is in play.

As we previously reported, Parry was arrested on February 25 after cops say he went on a drunken violent bender in Scottsdale ... in which he also verbally attacked the police.

Now, court docs show Parry has been charged with felony robbery, felony unlawful use of transportation and misdemeanor threats.

If convicted on all counts, Parry could face more than 5 years behind bars.

Jackie Warner came face-to-face with a cop's gun during her arrest in West Hollywood, and TMZ obtained some intense video of her brief standoff with law enforcement.

The video shows an L.A. County Sheriff's deputy aiming the gun while Jackie is behind the wheel of her car. The deputy's barking commands at Jackie, like ... "stay in the f****** car!" Jackie eventually emerged, in handcuffs, a white t-shirt, and a towel wrapped around her waist.

We broke the story ... the fitness queen crashed her car in WeHo, and when cops showed up things went south. Law enforcement sources say she backed into a patrol car ... forcing a deputy to jump out of harm's way, and leading to what happened in this video.

Jackie was arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon. As for the towel around her waist ... we're guessing deputies put it on her. She was not wearing pants because, as sources connected to Jackie put it, she was "sleep driving" on Ambien.

8:27 AM -- Jackie's rep tells TMZ, "It is unfortunate that a bystander filmed Jackie without her knowledge and then released that footage to the media in an obvious attempt to humiliate her." The rep goes on, "Jackie was in an extremely vulnerable state, having driven in her sleep after taking doctor-prescribed Ambien."