Plastic Surgeon Frank Ryan Was Texting Before Car Crash, Authorities Reportedly Say

NEW YORK (CBS) Dr. Frank Ryan, plastic surgeon the stars, was texting about the border collie in his car when his auto went off the road, a former girlfriend has said.

Ryan, who lives in Beverly Hills, was killed Monday when the car he was driving along the Pacific Coast Highway veered off the road and over a cliff.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy.

Charmaine Blake, who lived with Ryan for three years and had remained friends with him, told People magazine that Ryan's family was told by investigators that Tweeting caused the wreck.

Blake said Ryan was sending a Twitter message about his dog Jill when the crash occurred. The dog was in the car at the time but survived with head and paw injuries.

The California Highway Patrol confirms Ryan was texting before the crash, but investigators have not officially determined the cause of the accident.

Ryan had performed cosmetic surgeries on a number of stars. His most famous patient was reality TV star Heidi Montag, who had 10 procedures done in one day.