Caitlyn Jenner blames paparazzi for fatal car crash
Caitlyn Jenner says paparazzi are at fault for her involvement in a car crash that killed a woman in February 2015.
Her attorney added photographers and photo agencies, referred to as "Stalker Defendants," to an existing cross-complaint against Jessica Steindorff, another driver who was also involved in the crash, reports ET.
The court docs allege that the photographers "were [stalking] Jenner, chasing Jenner and harassing Jenner throughout the day, up through the time of the incident."
"Stalker defendants and others acting in concert with them continuously, negligently and recklessly operated their vehicles tracking Jenner, speeding up to tailgate Jenner, [and] driving too close to take pictures," the documents claim.
The complaint added that though Jenner was adhering to laws and speed limits, because of the paparazzi, Jenner says she was "visually distracted," and that the photographers' behavior "did contribute to the cause of an accident, where seconds and split seconds mattered."
Jenner wants the paparazzi and Steindorff to be held "legally responsible for some or all of damages sought" by the occupants of the Hummer that was also involved in the multi-vehicle collision.
The fatal crash happened on Feb. 7, 2015, when Steindorff was stopped at a traffic light on the Pacific Coast Highway. Sixty nine-year-old Kim Howe was driving a Lexus sedan behind Steindorff, who was driving with a suspended license. Jenner rear-ended the Lexus, which was then thrown into oncoming traffic and struck by a Hummer. Howe died from her injuries at the scene of the crash.
Though the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department found that Steindorff's driving did not result in or lead to the crash, Jenner's lawyers are arguing that Steindorff was inattentive and did not proceed when the traffic light turned green.
The department did find that Jenner was driving at an unsafe speed, although she was driving below the speed limit. Jenner was cleared of all criminal charges.