NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Jenner could face manslaughter in crash

LOS ANGELES

Caitlyn Jenner could face a vehicular-manslaughter charge after sheriff’s investigators found she was driving unsafely when she caused a chain-reaction crash that killed a woman in February, officials said Thursday.

Investigators found that Jenner was driving “unsafe for the prevailing road conditions” when her SUV rear-ended a Lexus, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.

Their investigation found that speed was a factor, considering the existing traffic conditions, Nishida said. Daniel W. Vomhof, an accident reconstructionist, said the additional weight from towing a loaded trailed makes it more difficult to stop a vehicle quickly and can surprise people.

Jenner was hauling an off-road vehicle on a trailer behind her Cadillac Escalade on Feb. 7 when she steered to avoid cars slowing for a traffic light in front of her on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Jenner was unable to stop in time, and her SUV rear-ended two cars, pushing the Lexus into oncoming traffic and also hitting a Toyota Prius. The Lexus driver, 69-year-old Kim Howe, was killed when her car was struck head-on by a Hummer.

The case will be presented to prosecutors for final review by the end of August, Nishida said. The district attorney’s office will determine what charges Jenner ultimately faces.

If convicted of such a charge, Jenner could face up to one year in county jail. Jenner’s attorney Blair Berk declined to comment.

Associated Press