New Video Surfaces Of Fatal Malibu Crash Involving Former Bruce Jenner
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — New surveillance video of a fatal four-vehicle crash in Malibu involving the former Bruce Jenner appears to show the ex-Olympian rear-ending a white Lexus, which is forced into oncoming traffic before slamming into an oncoming Hummer, killing the Lexus driver.
The video was taken from security cameras on a Metro bus and obtained by "Entertainment Tonight."
Jenner – who now identifies as a woman and goes by the name of Caitlyn Jenner – was not injured in the Feb. 7 crash on Pacific Coast Highway near Corral Canyon Road. Relatives of the Lexus driver, 69-year-old Kim Howe, have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Jenner.
The crash is still under investigation by the Sheriff's Department.
Jenner was driving a Cadillac Escalade, hauling an off-road vehicle on a trailer. Shortly after the crash, authorities said it appeared that Howe's Lexus had crashed into a black Toyota Prius, whose driver had slowed or stopped for unknown reasons, prompting Jenner to rear-end the Lexus, pushing it into the path of the Hummer.
The video released Thursday appears to show Jenner rear-ending the Lexus, pushing it into oncoming traffic, then striking the Prius, which was driven by Hollywood talent manager Jessica Marie Steindorff. Steindorff has also sued Jenner over the crash.
Jenner's attorney, Philip Boesch, said he believes the new video weighs in Jenner's favor.
"We have seen parts of an MTA bus video, and this and all other evidence confirms that this was simply a tragic accident," he said.
CBS2/KCAL9 Legal Analyst Steve Meister says, "For criminal liability here, Jenner would have had to have been driving in some way that was a violation of the law and that violation had to have caused the accident that led to the fatality. I don't know If you can link up all those pieces."
Meister said talking or texting would be such a violation as would tailgating.
"If it is determined he was following too closely he could conceivably face criminal liability, probably misdemeanor manslaughter."
He also believes because it appears every driver "was doing something that doesn't appear to be the safest" liability might not rest with Jenner alone, KCAL9's Serene Branson reported.
Shortly after the February crash, Jenner released a statement saying, "My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loves ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident. It's a devastating tragedy and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them. I will continue to cooperate in every way possible."
Caitlyn Jenner is scheduled to be honored next week with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the ESPY Awards ceremony at the Microsoft Theatre at L.A. Live in recognition of her decision to go public with her gender-identity change.
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