Caitlyn Jenner likely to be charged with misdemeanor manslaughter for car crash

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Back in February of this year, then-Bruce Jenner was involved in a fatal car crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Bruce was apparently smoking a cigarette in the car, but not texting or drinking (he passed a field sobriety test), nor was he technically speeding, although it’s believed that Jenner should have been using more caution considering the driving conditions that day. Jenner rear-ended a car which resulted in a train-reaction that left one woman dead. Following the accident, Bruce came out as Caitlyn Jenner and she went on with her life. She did the Diane Sawyer interview, the Vanity Fair cover and we’re halfway through her reality show. Jenner released a statement immediately following the crash, but she has spent little time in the past few months making any public reference to the accident.

In the months that followed the February accident, the Highway Patrol called in Sheriff’s detectives to help with the investigation, to see if there was any criminal action on the part of Jenner or anyone else. Now the Los Angeles Times reports that the investigators are prepared to present evidence to the prosecutors that Jenner should be charged with manslaughter.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives will present evidence next week to prosecutors that could lead to a misdemeanor manslaughter charge against Caitlyn Jenner in a deadly chain-reaction crash earlier this year on Pacific Coast Highway. Jenner was driving at an unsafe speed Feb. 7 when her Escalade hit Kim Howe’s car, ultimately leading to the deadly crash, said Det. Richard Curry of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Jenner was not driving above the speed limit, but driving at an unsafe speed for the road conditions that day, he added.

The evidence will be presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office next week. Prosecutors will review the case and decide whether to formally charge Jenner. Typically, a single misdemeanor manslaughter charge could carry a sentence of a year in jail. Blair Berk, Jenner’s attorney, declined to comment on the presentation of the evidence.

Detectives will also present evidence against Jessica Steindorff, who was driving a Toyota Prius during the crash and has filed a lawsuit against Jenner. Curry said Steindorff was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash, and she could be charged with that crime.

Cellphone records show no one was using the devices at the time of the crash, Curry said.

Detectives combed through driving records and looked at detailed reports from the CHP, which inspected the vehicles. At the time of the crash near Corral Canyon Road in Malibu, authorities said Howe’s Lexus rear-ended Steindorff’s Prius when it slowed down or suddenly stopped, and that Jenner’s Escalade then rear-ended Howe’s car, thrusting it into oncoming traffic. A Hummer struck Howe’s Lexus after it was pushed into traffic.

“Basically, anyone can get into this situation behind the wheel like Ms. Jenner. There is no drugs or alcohol involved. This is just unsafe driving,” said attorney Dmitry Gorin, a former L.A. County prosecutor. “Misdemeanor manslaughter happens to people every day. I remember a law professor getting charged. … If you commit a road infraction that results in a death, that becomes a traffic misdemeanor manslaughter.”

[From The LA Times]

So the consensus from law enforcement isn’t that Caitlyn was texting or talking on the phone, nor was she under the influence of drugs or alcohol, nor was she speeding. She just made a driving mistake and it led to a terrible accident that cost one woman her life. Misdemeanor manslaughter sounds about right, although I seriously doubt Caitlyn will end up going to jail. She has great lawyers and my guess is that she pleads down the sentence to a suspended license, a fine, a suspended sentence and maybe two years’ probation or something like that. Plus, she’s already being sued by two families involved in the crash – she’s going to be spreading money far and wide.

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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110 Responses to “Caitlyn Jenner likely to be charged with misdemeanor manslaughter for car crash”

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  1. Amy says:

    Hmm in relation to the private actions, it does sound like a money grab and I do feel a bit sorry for her there. And I’m sure her lawyer has warned her not to speak publicly about what happened because if she expressed any regret it would be used as ammunition by the families.

    Obviously if she was an unsafe driver she should be sanctioned, but it really does seem like the other families are picking on her to litigate against because it will be a big payout!

    • Lilacflowers says:

      It was a car accident. Unless Caitlynn was uninsured, the insurance company would be liable.

      • MediaMaven says:

        If Caitlyn is insured at a level to cover the costs………..

      • Snappyfish says:

        EXCEPT… Jenner stated the Prius stopped & the white Lexus hit the Prius & in an attempt to avoid the accident Jenner pulled to the right clipping the white Lexus on the passenger side rear catapulting it into traffic & the path of the Hummer which in turn causes the death…..

        Which is NOT what happened. The video from the passing bus clearly shows the initial contact was the Jenner driven SUV towing a trailer hitting the Lexus & forcing it into on coming traffic. Then Jenner hit the Prius which was either slowing or stopped by that time.

        It was an accident BUT Jenner is at fault. His insurance should pay (his callous comment about the children of Howe’s lawsuit was shocking..”they are adults & aren’t dependant on her & don’t deserve my money”) he did give a false account of the accident to the police but I understand it’s often hard to remember when things happen fast but the black car stopped, white car hit it story has been proven false by passing MTA bus camera

      • The Original G says:

        I do give a side-eye to a family that had NO contact with their stepmother since 2003 filing suit, actually.

      • Casi says:

        A) All drivers must exercise care and remain in control of their vehicle at all times with regards to weather and traffic conditions. Failure to do so will cause you to be wholly or partially liable for an accident.

        B) Surprisingly, from an insurance liability standpoint, if the Prius driver’s license was suspended is not a factor in whether or not she can file against Caitlyn’s policy. I don’t handle California claims, but a quick look indicates that California is a pure comparative fault state as far as liability goes, so if Caitlyn was x% at fault for the crash, the Prius’s driver will be entitled to recover x% of the physical damage to the vehicle and the medical bills incurred as a result of the crash.

        Now, I guarantee that because this is such a liability mess, assuming all three parties had auto insurance, all three insurance policies have claims going. Depending on the terms of her policy, if her license was suspended, the Prius driver’s policy may not cover her because she was driving with a suspended license. Even if they do, they will risk review her and probably determine that she is too big a risk to insure going forward, but for this accident, she may be covered. If it was a valid license none of that applies.

        C) California has very low required limits of liability. I’m sure that Caitlyn is very well insured (or may be self-insured or have some kind of private bond situation going on, but I’ll bet she’s just well insured) but this accident will quickly hit many policies’ limits of liability. At that point, if she has a liability umbrella policy, the damages would be paid by that, or in the absence of that or after that has been exhausted, she would be personally liable for the rest.

        Insurance is my day job, so I deal with stuff like this–albeit lower profile stuff like this–all day long.

      • The Original G says:

        @casi. Interesting. Where I live in Canada, it’s no license, no insurance coverage, even if paid. So, if the other drivers here were uninsured it certainly might influence their own interest in suing to recover damages?

      • Michelle says:

        @snappyfish– yep. He immediately blamed the victim and his family blamed the paps.
        Also I read the woman DID HAVE A VALID license in AZ where she also had a home. I also read she WAS close to the stepchildren. I think the Jenner PR machine put out a lot of misinformation to favor Bruce.

    • Starrywonder says:

      Yeah the insurance company would be the one paying in this case not Caitlyn. I don’t think those people understand how this works.

      And also based on the above all other parties would have to not be found to also be the cause of the accident. It sounds like the first car hit the second car which then Jenner hit and that car went out into traffic. You can’t blame her for this.

      • Josephine says:

        Depends on the insurance and the charges. Many policies will not cover certain types of offenses, and even if the other parties are to blame as well, that doesn’t leave her off the hook, it just distributes the costs among the parties according to their culpability. Insurance policies also have caps, so she could be on the hook after the insurance pays out.

      • Starrywonder says:

        @Josephine true but if Jenner has another policy I think umbrella she should be fine. The only way the adults (who by the way I am side eyeing) get any money and the other driver is going to be on the percent the police find her guilty for the accident. I was found to be 52 percent at fault for one of my accidents, the other drive was found to be 48. The other driver then tried to sue the insurance company for more money and when it went to arbitration they ruled she would only get more money if she was not at fault, ie. 0 percent. I was happy that the insurance company took over for it but it is like you said the other driver was suing for $10,000 and my policy could handle that amount.

    • The Original G says:

      Given that one of the drivers was driving on a suspended license and the other no license at all, those claims might have some problems, I think. Sad all round.

      • lucy2 says:

        A friend of mine was hit by a drunk driver (in the middle of the afternoon) and was pushed into oncoming traffic. Luckily there were no fatalities or anything, but my friend was sued by the people she was pushed into. It was all handled by insurance, but of course the drunk driver was underinsured, so it all dragged on for a few years. Basically everyone sued everyone, so I’m not at all surprised there’s a bunch of lawsuits here.

        If Caitlyn or the Prius driver did something wrong, appropriate consequences need to happen.

      • prissa says:

        Mrs. Howe had a valid license in Arizona where she had a residence. She was a legally licensed driver. I wish people would stop repeating that lie.

      • The Original G says:

        Well, that lie comes from the LA Times and not a tabloid source.

      • Starrywonder says:

        @prissa but she had to switch over to a CA license after you have been in residence after a few months right? Plus the police are saying this.

      • Kosmos says:

        I see it as only Jenner being at fault since he rear-ended here. He would need to face all fines, penalties or laws covering this type of incident. I don’t see either of the other drivers at fault. Jenner obviously wasn’t driving a safe distance away, and/or he was too distracted to take notice of the slowing down of vehicles in front of him. Since this involved the death of one of the drivers, the more serious the penalties, period. If he is trying to evade taking blame, or blaming either of the other parties, he is out of line.

    • BB says:

      I give a side eye to those step-children too, The Original G.

      • justagirl says:

        Agree. Side eye to the step-children. Media use of the term “children” leads people to assume some kind of relationship or dependence on the parent, either emotional or emotional and financial. No contact for 10 years and well past childhood. They should not be seeking compensation.

        And side eye to anyone who was not even legally allowed on the road and is suing. Unbelievable.

      • Savannah says:

        The information about the step kids not being close to their step mom has turned out to be unsubstantiated. What an awful insinuation to make about someone. These are more lies from the K kamp. They can literally put anything out there on TMZ and people will take it as gospel.

      • Jen says:

        I wish we would stop with the “side-eye” and “ugh” passing for actual commentary. Accepted or not it is lazy in journalism, and annoying in comments.

        However I think that this woman’s life was worth something, and it is on the shoulders of those with the “right to sue”. Those people are her step children in this case. I don’t know who is responsible for settling this woman’s estate, but I know from experience that there are always way more expenses than inherently obvious in the event of a sudden death.

        My grandmother was killed by a young woman who was my exact age at the time. I remember thinking that this poor woman would feel this for the rest of her life, but her insurance did not cover all of the cost associated. Luckily, my grandmother’s own life insurance covered the rest of the costs. However, I am now more thankful that there was no one to “side eye” our family getting a lawyer or looking into suing her for costs.

        Let’s just call the “side-eye” what it is. It’s judging, and it’s judging based off of facts given by someone trying to cover their own ass who has more money. I find that disgusting.

  2. swack says:

    I don’t believe she should get any jail time but she was following too closely while towing a 4 wheeler and therefore should not get off scott free. The least she should get is the suspension of her license because she obviously did not learn anything from the accident at she was seen days later on the phone while driving.

    • PhenomenalWoman says:

      I agree.

      Unrelated, whoever is styling Caitlyn is doing a great job. That black dress with the leather jacket really works and it’s a perfect fit (fitted, but not tight). Really feeling it.

  3. Mabel says:

    I agree. I don’t think she should go to jail. Maybe license suspension and community service plus a fine.

  4. Sarah says:

    The amount of people that follow me too closely as I drive right at the speed limit angers me, especially as a new driver. I don’t want to speed, so I drive at the limit if traffic allows me. Is anyone else paranoid about people driving too close? It feels weird when strangers get too close to you when you are just walking down the street, so why is it okay for them to get too close while driving? Isn’t it one of the first things you read about in driving ed that you should always maintain space?

    • Snazzy says:

      I’ve been driving for a looong time and it still weirds me out. I also always drive the limit, and if others don’t like it, too bad. People forget that cars are 2-ton killing machines.

    • De says:

      I hate when people follow too closely as well (I’m also a newish driver, so I will admit I do get intimidated easily).

      I also hate when I try to leave a respectable gap between myself and the car in front, and someone slips into that gap. It happens all the time on wet roads.

    • swack says:

      Sarah, weirds me out too and I’ve been driving 40+ years. If I’m on a road that isn’t packed with cars and speed limit is 40 or less, I’ll slow down until they get off my tail.

      • Snazzy says:

        ha ha I do that too! Makes people nuts 🙂

      • MrsB says:

        This is totally what I do too lol. If somebody comes flying up on my bumper and I’m already going the speed limit or above, I will absolutely slow down.

      • swack says:

        @snazzy, one time recently I did this and then turned right. He turned right also and passed me immediately after he turned (no passing zone, narrow road) without looking to see if someone was coming from the opposite direction. The funny thing about this is, he didn’t get any further if he had stayed behind me and he tailgated the next car he was behind and that car ALSO slowed down because he was tailgaiting. I had a good laugh at that one.

    • Jorts says:

      I HATE when people do that, but I understand how it happens. You’re supposed to keep one full car length between cars, but often people will try to jump in or cut you off (never using a signal of course) when you give them too much room. At least, that’s my experience from driving on highways and city driving. I try to be really cognizant of tailing people though.

      • Ripley says:

        I always thought it was one car length for every ten miles (eg… 6 car lengths for 60 mph)?

      • Robin says:

        Ripley, it used to be one car length per 10 mph, but sometime in the last couple of decades, the laws of physics apparently changed, and now the recommended following distance is only two car lengths no matter how fast you’re going. Which is ridiculous. At 60 mph, you are covering 88 feet per second. Two car lengths is far too close at that speed.

      • Lady D says:

        Here we have a 2 second rule. When the car in front of you passes a landmark, count one one thousand, two one thousand, and you should be then passing the same landmark. In winter we are told to leave four seconds between cars. It’s a lot safer than 2 car lengths difference.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      You aren’t alone. And I have a friend who is a horrible tailgater. When space opens up in front of her, she floors it until she reaches the next vehicle. I won’t ride with her.

      • AcidRock says:

        Ay…I don’t blame you one bit for refusing to ride with her. People like this are maddening and just looking to cause an accident.

      • Crumpet says:

        I had a friend that did that. She told me (and she was incredibly sincere) that her car had excellent brakes. I never rode with her again.

    • Jessica says:

      I hate it too. But where I live everyone does it. If you try and keep the proper distance someone will just merge into your lane between you and the car you’re following, which can be even more dangerous than following too closely. It drives me insane, but I guess on the plus side it’s made me an extremely focused driver.

    • Daria Morgendorffer says:

      @Sarah, Just this morning some woman was tailgating me so badly and not paying attention that she drove up on the sidewalk to avoid hitting me when me and the cars in front of me stopped for a red light. As soon as we got further down the road and there were 2 lanes, she went into a turn only lane and almost caused an accident by going straight. There are a lot of assh-le drivers out there.

      I live in NJ which is home to some of the most aggressive drivers in the country which is one of the reasons we pay the highest auto insurance rates in the nation. It doesn’t matter how fast I go, someone is constantly driving too close to me. I take caution to not go too much above the speed limit because moving violations are heavily penalized here, so I travel 5 or 10 mph over the speed limit and people still find it necessary to tailgate.

      If you ever feel like it’s too ridiculous and the person behind you is being reckless, don’t be afraid to pull over and let them pass you. I didn’t even get my license until I was 20 (legal age is 17 in Jersey) because I was so afraid of how aggressive it is here, and my parents were understanding because even they noted how much the roads have changed since they started driving in the 70s. Unfortunately though, this is a part of driving now as people in our society become more inclined to believe that everything in life should be a matter of convenience and that they should never have to wait for anything.

      • manda says:

        yes! why don’t people do that more?!?!? I usually drive over the limit, sometimes only 5 miles but sometimes like 15 or 20. If someone is tailgating me and I can pull over, I just do. It’s so much less stressful. I wish more people would do it when I am behind them, though. I try not to tailgate but sometimes it’s like, c’mon, you can see this line of people behind you!

      • TheOriginalTiffany says:

        That is when I seem to need to clean my windshield the most. That backs people off pretty quick. Yes, I know that I’m being passive aggressive. I can’t stand being tail gated.

      • swack says:

        @manda, so everyone doing the speed limit, should pull over so that you can pass them because you choose to speed. If you are in such a hurry to get somewhere then leave 5 – 10 minutes earlier. I don’t tailgate because, even with all my years of driving, I do not feel like I could stop quickly enough if the person in front of me suddenly puts on their brakes. I give at least a half a car length (usually a car length) between myself and the car in front of me to be safe. Do I appreciate when a person goes under the speed limit, no, but I don’t tailgate either because of it.

      • Nicolette says:

        I’m in NYC, and I really don’t like being on the Jersey Turnpike. You’re right, very aggressive driving going on. And you’re also right about the A-hole drivers, and boy are there a lot of them. The rules of the road just don’t seem to matter now and no one seems to know what right-of-way means anymore. Some drivers are just in space it seems and totally clueless about what they are doing. And some just don’t give a damn. Last week I was on the Cross Island Pkwy in the left lane and the car in front of me had cut me off. Went around him and when I looked in the rear view mirror, he had his wrists on the steering wheel, holding his cell phone with both hands and texting. Doing 60, and somehow thinking his wrists are going to be able to control his car.

        I also agree with you about the issue of patience, which people don’t seem to have any more. We live in a world dominated by technology and instant gratification. Everything is supposed to happen at lightening speed. If you’re making a turn or pulling out of a driveway, someone will fly up the block and you better be out of their way because they shouldn’t have to be inconvenienced with having to slow down a moment.

        The list of things drivers do that is infuriating is long. You just have to be aware, and drive defensively.

      • Kiddo says:

        In the Jenner accident, the problem was that some were already in the process of making a turn and I think there would have been nowhere to pull to the side, without actually creating an accident, since that road seemed narrow and I believe it is only one lane (?).

        Based on the size and weight of Jenner’s vehicle, extra caution and distance should have been used. I wish there were extra charges in the law for vehicles over a certain size. Even a lot of SUV drivers drive like they are in tiny sports cars, but the type of damage and injury that they can create is magnified. Same with semis/tractor trailers.

        Civil suits are always about money, so the money grab statements are a little harsh. Maybe they are ONLY looking for a payout, or maybe they know there will be no real consequences criminally, so their only recourse is financial punitive damages. It was an ‘accident’, but a person did lose their life, which makes this infinitely sadder.

      • lucy2 says:

        Fellow Jersey girl here. I ended up having to drive through a traffic circle 2 days after getting my license. I nearly had a breakdown.
        The tailgating thing drives me nuts. I often have to drive one highway that’s single lane for about 20 miles (and through the woods so often has a lot of deer). The tailgating, speeding, and passing that happens on that road is INSANE. I once had someone tailgating me so close on it, I moved closer towards the right side of the lane so they’d pass. When they didn’t, and got even closer, I got pissed off and pulled onto the shoulder. And then the lights came on – it was a cop, and they pulled me over for “swerving” and suspicion of DUI. I was completely sober, and they caused the swerving!

      • Daria Morgendorffer says:

        @Nicolette, I totally agree with you about not liking to drive on Jersey highways. The last time I was on the Parkway, I was doing 70 and people were flying past me so fast that the car shook as they went by. They had to be going well over 100mph. Sorry, but I don’t care who I piss off behind me. I’m not going to drive like a maniac for anyone. I avoid the NJ Parkway and Turnpike if I can. I’d rather leave my house however earlier and take an alternate route. I’d love to see more State Troopers do their jobs and control things because it’s really gotten ridiculous.

        @lucy2, that’s ridiculous! But also not surprising. I’ve been tailgated by a cop before. I don’t see anyone texting and driving, or talking on the phone and driving more than NJ police officers. I ALWAYS see cops driving while on their phones. They’re just as bad as the rest of the aggressive morons on the road.

    • Nicolette says:

      I’ve been driving a long time and I hate it when someone is too close. We have red light cameras at certain intersections, and when you know where those are you learn the timing of the light change and pretty much know when to stop. But you’ll get those drivers that may not realize there’s a camera, or just not care and be up your rear trying to force you through so they can beat the light. It’s a bullying tactic. A friend of mine is finally getting driving lessons and constantly tells me that even though there is a sign on the car signifying a student driver, people are still so aggressive and follow too closely. It can be very intimidating to a new driver.

    • meme says:

      Some people drive like maniacs. I ALWAYS slow down when people tailgate me, especially if I’m on a highway doing 15 over the speed limit. I love when people call the left lane the FAST lane. Tell that to the cop who pulls you over for doing 100 in a 65.

    • Esmom says:

      Yes, it’s terrible. Does no one remember the 3-second rule?! It might be the only detail I’ve retained clearly from Drivers Ed a couple (actually three, yikes!) decades ago.

      My son just did Driver’s Ed this summer so driving with him has helped re-open my eyes to how many bad/unsafe drivers there are, not even including texting while driving which drives me insane. I agree with Nicolette who said it’s a bullying tactic. People are just in too much of a hurry, it’s ridiculous, and they also seem to carry a lot of rage. I just saw an older lady lean on the horn because someone didn’t immediately start moving in front of her. It was a quiet, residential neighborhood at about 6:00 am. I was like, really? Do you really need to get so worked up?

      • swack says:

        Taught my grandson to drive the spring and summer and I am constantly reminding him to look out for the other driver. I had someone lay on the horn at me because I didn’t start immediately. I don’t start immediately because I have seen cars run red lights at high rates of speed, 30 seconds after it has turned red and if I had started right away I would have been killed. There are so many people who run red lights that you can’t just go without looking.

      • Nicolette says:

        Oh the dreaded hand on the horn the split second the light turns green. I’ll sometimes pause a sec or two just to fluff them up a bit. And I agree with @Swack, you almost need to hesitate because so many do run red lights. You have to look quick to make sure they have stopped.

      • Kiddo says:

        @Nicolette, Gunning the red light is such a consistent tri-state area practice. When driving, I always pause and actually give a once over before moving on green. I don’t care if someone is pissed behind me, I don’t want to be T-boned by a truck.

        The other bizarre thing drivers do here is speed up when you have space to make a turn at a light. It’s so strange. They are driving relatively slow, and there is plenty of space, but they see you turning and hit the gas, like they WANT To hit the car, or get in an accident.
        What kind of mentality is that?

      • Nicolette says:

        @Kiddo, I’m cautious at stop signs as well. Always glance left and right to make sure no one is intending on running through one. Learned that lesson when I was 7 months pregnant with my son and had my then 11 year old daughter in the car. I didn’t have a stop sign but the other vehicle did and ran through it. I tried to get out of the way but wound up t-boning him. Luckily my daughter, unborn son and I were ok, though I was taken by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution. And you’re spot on about drivers speeding up. It’s insane, like some crazy game of chicken. I don’t understand the mentality either.

      • Daria Morgendorffer says:

        @Esmom, “I just saw an older lady lean on the horn because someone didn’t immediately start moving in front of her.”

        This is common practice where I live. It used to infuriate me, but now I just let it roll off my back and laugh.I kid you not, certain areas around where I live, the very second the light turns green someone blows the horn. They don’t even wait to see if the person is going to move slowly, they just immediately hit the horn because they can’t stand to wait for anything. It’s so crazy.

        Don’t even get me started on how few people know how 4-way stop signs or right of way work either.

        About 2 weeks ago I was driving and someone trying to make a left on red almost turned into me and when I blew my horn he made a gun out of his hand and pointed it at me. People are insane.

      • Esmom says:

        swack, yes, the first thing I emphasized to my son is to not assume people will obey traffic lights and signs. To always look carefully before you just go, even when you have the right of way.

        People keep asking me if I’m nervous to drive with a teen. He doesn’t make me nervous at all, it’s all the other drivers who do!

        And Daria, yes, people are insane. That’s the other thing I keep telling my son, who gets outraged when people don’t follow rules, to never confront anyone. You never know who might have an actual gun. 🙁

    • Imqrious2 says:

      Sarah, a friend of my dad’s taught me this trick when I started driving: if someone is following you too closely for comfort (during daylight hours), turn your lights on. This makes your tail lights come on, fooling the driver behind you into thinking you’re braking, and he/she slows down (usually!). At night time, just *gently* tap your brakes a couple of times; this usually backs them off, too.

      Good luck!

    • Jess says:

      It bothers me too and I’ve been driving for over 20 years. I always wonder why people are so confident that I’m not going to stop suddenly for a darting squirrel or something. My step father taught me that the best thing to do when someone is driving aggressively close behind is to slow down gradually (though still within reason for the location and conditions). The person behind usually gets the message and, more importantly, it helps to keep me calm and not let the impatient one behind me get the better of me. My husband is the opposite and it drives me nuts – he gets so angry and speeds up to try to get rid of the follower, or hastily pulls over and swears his head off. Argh.

      In this case, to me Caitlyn was at fault. There’s rarely such a thing as an “accident” on the roads. Someone has always made a mistake and must be held responsible. In many places, if you hit someone from behind you are at fault no matter what.

    • Kosmos says:

      I definitely hate tail-gaters. It’s unsafe, it’s rude, and they’re not getting to their destination any faster. Behind the wheel, people will do things they wouldn’t do in public because they hide inside a vehicle. Driving too closely can cause a chain reaction. It just doesn’t leave room for sudden stops or sudden slowing. It’s also very hard on the brakes because tail-gaters are always stepping on their brakes due to driving too closely. It’s bad all around and I wish more police would pull these people over.

    • Crumpet says:

      I have often though that people who tailgate have never been in an actual car crash. Because the consequences are absolutely horrific, and the sensations you experience as your body hurtles helplessly through space toward a terrible end, never leave you.

  5. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    So much for all of the posters on here who wanted her to be charged with murder and were screaming that she killed that woman and didn’t care. She wasn’t drinking, texting, talking on the phone or speeding. I’m not saying she doesn’t have any responsibility for what happened, although I think it’s a little scary that you can be charged for driving too fast when you aren’t speeding, but I was shocked by the things people were saying about what happened without any knowledge of the facts.

    • Jorts says:

      She was driving at an unsafe speed for the road conditions, though. She used poor judgment, but I suppose that can happen to anyone.

      She won’t get any jail time. People rarely do for auto accidents caused by negligence.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Right, I know you have to take road conditions into consideration, it’s just scary because there are no hard and fast rules. I mean, you could think you were driving at a safe speed for road conditions, but still be charged. It’s not like they tell you you have to drop your speed by 10 mph, so you have to just guess. I guess I like things to be really clear. Driving rain = minus 10 mph, or something. It’s an issue I need to work on. My husband calls its my “gots to know” syndrome.

    • swack says:

      People aren’t willing to wait until all the facts of a case are out and sometimes even when the facts are there, they still want blood.

    • platypus says:

      Completely agree. I’m getting ready to finally get my license, and it’s absolutely terrifying to think that this kind of thing could happen to just about anyone. We’re only human, and bound to make at least some minor mistakes during a lifetime of driving. Although the outcome was obviously a terrible tragedy, in technical terms this sounds like a relatively minor mistake (given she was not texting, drunk, going over the limit, etc.).

    • Starrywonder says:

      Who was calling for her to go to jail? Really? That is surprising. It never sounded like this was solely her fault.

      She hit someone after that person had hit another car and then another car hit that car she hit and killed the driver. It sucks because I have been in two accidents (hit from behind both times) and I could easily have died. One time it was because the driver of the truck that hit me was moving over because he thought another driver was about to hit him and he didn’t see my car. The second time the driver was just not paying attention when I was stopped on the side of the road.

    • Jayna says:

      I found it odd, also, because it’s tragic and it was his fault. But the accident investigation report wasn’t done and yet false facts were being thrown around. It’s sad all around, though.

      • claire says:

        Weren’t there photos of Caitlyn texting and driving? I think that definitely sparked some of it.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Yes, I’m not trying at all to minimize the agony that poor woman’s family is going through or absolve him of any responsibility. I was just shocked by how many people were instantly calling for his head without knowing what happened.

      • swack says:

        @claire – again that was something a “source” stated and instead of waiting and seeing if she was really texting and driving they jumped to all sorts of conclusions. She was not texting and driving, she was smoking at the time. Again, people need to wait until all facts are out until accusing someone of something.

    • Michelle says:

      This entire last paragraph could be an excerpt from an article on celebrity privilege. If Caitlyn Jenner was in the Lexus, the narrative about the driver of the SUV would be undeniably different.

      This comment is even worse, though. You say she wasn’t ‘drinking, texting, talking on the phone or speeding’. That’s correct-she was driving dangerously and that’s how she killed someone. Is not paying attention while driving not scary to you? While driving nearly 2 tons of steel on a crowded, notoriously dangerous road? You call it ‘scary’ that someone can be charged for driving too fast when they weren’t speeding. She was driving too fast for the conditions on the road she was driving on. How is that scary or even slightly confusing? A speed limit is a speed determined to be the maximum at which you can drive safely on any particular stretch of any road. You still have to use your brain as a driver and it is your responsibility to drive safely. To drive at a speed at which you can drive safely. It is expected that drivers understand this most basic of concepts. If the same road sees sunny dry summers and downpours with tennis ball sized hail in the winter, it is expected that you will understand that maximum speed will fluctuate according to the conditions on the road and not drive dangerously fast because of a number on a sign.

      Imagine what kind of questions would cross your mind if you were sitting in a car going less than 5 mph (along with every other car to the front and side of you) and you see one of the auto industry’s largest SUVs with a tow on the back barreling towards you in your rearview mirror as if he doesn’t even see you there.

  6. MsGoblin says:

    I just don’t understand how the words “misdemeanor” and “manslaughter” can be in the same sentence.

    • Jayna says:

      http://www.shouselaw.com/negligent-vehicle-manslaughter.html

      Excerpt from it below. The full article gives examples.

      “The penalties under California’s vehicular manslaughter/gross vehicular manslaughter law depend on whether you acted with
      gross negligence, or ordinary negligence.

      “If you acted with gross negligence, you will be charged with Penal Code 192(c) gross vehicular manslaughter—a wobbler in California law. This offense may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.

      “The maximum misdemeanor sentence is one (1) year in county jail—and the maximum felony sentence is six (6) years in state prison.

      “But if you acted with only ordinary negligence, then Penal Code 192(c) is a California misdemeanor. The maximum sentence will be one (1) year in county jail.”

    • Esmom says:

      I almost posted the exact same thing! My first thought was that it seems like an oxymoron. My second thought was that I really don’t know much about the law.

  7. me says:

    good, for someone who values so much life (or maybe just trans people life now), it’s time she takes responsibility of her actions, someone died only months ago she is out of there being a famewho like nothing happened.
    And to the people defending her how would you feel if it was someone of your family that died in that accident ?

    • Jorts says:

      If it was my mother who died because of someone else’s carelessness, I’d be bullshit, end of.

    • Luca76 says:

      Everyone that drives has made a dumb mistake that could have caused an accident. EVERYONE, especially in a city like LA when under extreme stress. She wasn’t on the phone, she wasn’t under the influence, she just made a tragic mistake and got really unlucky that day.

      I have no idea what what or how the family feels, or should feel neither do you.
      Now that BS aside you put in about her only caring about the lives of trans people was that really necessary?

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Thank you. I reared-ended somebody once, and it was completely my fault because I was distracted by another driver. Nobody was hurt, but if they had been, I guess that means I wouldn’t care unless I jumped off a bridge in response.

      • Daria Morgendorffer says:

        @Luca76 and @GNAT, I agree with you both. I’m certainly no fan of Caitlyn’s but this has seemed like a witch hunt from the start to me. Sometimes accidents really do happen and you can’t hold the mindset of “someone has to pay!” all because something terrible happened. That is exactly why it’s called an “accident” in the first place. If Caitlyn wasn’t found to be on the phone, wasn’t speeding, wasn’t intoxicated and whatever else she was found to NOT be doing, I don’t see how she has done anything illegally or can be held up on charges. If she wasn’t speeding, it’s a stretch to say she wasn’t driving “properly for the weather” or whatever the claim is.

        TMZ is reporting that this is false information and that they aren’t seeking any charges for Caitlyn.

    • Dal says:

      @me- exactly.

    • holly hobby says:

      Well if you recall the VF interview, she compartmentalized her life. The car accident, parental abandonment or whatever bad thing that went down was attributed to Bruce. She’s not Caitlyn and she’s “good.” Yeah I think really she’s shirking her responsiblility.

  8. katy says:

    If I did something like this and it cost someone their life, there is no way I could live with myself.

    • kitty28 says:

      Yeah I agree. She just goes on with her life. Which I guess is what one would do….. But if it was me, I would be scarred. Forever. She seems so preoccupied with her transition, show, etc. and doesn’t even really acknowledge how bad that accident was. Very self absorbed, just like the kardashians. I feel bad for the person who passed, and their family.

      • Jenna says:

        Yes, because you know her so well. You don’t know what she’s dealing with internally. You don’t know what she says to her therapist. From the looks of it, what she is doing to keep herself occupied very well might be a distraction from the guilt she feels. I love when people assume they know how others feel– especially people they have never met, talked to, or read direct quotes from.

      • V4Real says:

        @Jenna I agree with you that we don’t know how she feels. But it’s just like Original K said below. She was caught a few weeks later talking on her cell phone while driving. If I was involved in an accident that took someone’s life and was truly remorseful about it, there is no way in hell I would be talking on a cell phone while driving knowing that I could cause another accident. Maybe that’s why Kitty28 said that Caitlyn doesn’t seem as she care.

        I use my cell phone while driving but it’s connected to my Bluetooth in my car. With all their money it’s hard to believe that she doesn’t have this feature in her car or just refuse to use it; yet use the hand held device.

    • original kay says:

      you know what it is for me? the fact she was seen, just a few weeks later, talking on her cell while driving.

      I mean, that’s it.

      An accident is dropping a jar of beets all over your white sweater. oops.

      It’s not being a negligent driver, and killing someone. It’s not then talking on your cell just weeks after killing someone, while driving. Those are the ones we know of, as well.

      • lucy2 says:

        At least one or two of her daughters have been photographed texting or doing other things while driving too, not long after the accident. It is difficult to understand how being a part of a fatal accident didn’t change risky behavior.

      • Kiddo says:

        Yeah, I would have a serious case of depression and guilt. I would be terrified to get back in the car. The LAST thing I would do, is anything which would distract me from the road.

      • BB says:

        I have never thought that any of the Jenners or Kardashians had much empathy for anyone else but themselves.

    • Esmom says:

      I hear you, I can’t imagine the lifelong guilt of knowing you were responsible for taking someone’s life, albeit accidentally. But what are you suggesting, that she should kill herself? I don’t see that she — or anyone else in this situation — can do anything else but go on. Similar to grieving, there isn’t a manual outlining what’s the right or wrong way of dealing with this situation.

      • FingerBinger says:

        Of course katy isn’t saying Caitlyn should kill herself. Caitlyn has been going on with her life like nothing happened. She could feel guilty but it doesn’t appear that way.

      • Kiddo says:

        She could drive, as if she killed someone in a car crash, at least, which means WITH AN ABUNDANCE of caution, with no avoidable distractions.

    • Sam says:

      I agree. I get that accidents happen. But if I knew that my actions had directly led to the death of another person, I’d feel anguish. Most other people would as well, I think. That’s a heavy thing to live with. Even many times when the death can be justified, people feel bad (lots of cops who justifiably kill a suspect, even though they know they did not do anything wrong, have emotional issues after doing it, it’s quite common). I do think Caitlyn should have kept a much lower profile than she did afterwards. A woman died because of her actions.

      So I just agree with you. I’d certainly probably need at least some therapy afterwards and probably would never, ever be the same. It would be tough to get past. Caitlyn should have handled herself better afterwards.

    • kitty28 says:

      Gosh! I don’t know her. And No she shouldn’t kill herself. Geez people. I’m just saying, through all the transition stuff, it seems all about ‘her’. Almost no remorse whatsoever for the family. And yes, the texting/phoning after that accident that they all did! She has been promoting herself so much about her struggle. What about the person that died? What about the family of that person? I think someone dealing with it internally would not act the way she is acting. Sorry, I just don’t. And I’m sure she thinks about it, but come on…. You can have your opinion on that, but that’s mine.

  9. sarah says:

    I’m glad I’m not the only one weirded out people other drivers following to closely. Thanks for all the replies. Where are you going that is THAT important? The good thing that can come out of Caitlyn’s situation is that people can learn that they too can easily kill others even if they aren’t breaking laws, but by simply following to closely. And that could lead to a charge. Cars are killing machines. Keep space.

  10. Jayna says:

    “The L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept. says media reports claiming the agency is recommending Caitlyn Jenner be prosecuted for vehicular manslaughter are incorrect … there is NO such recommendation.
    TMZ reported, the 161-page Sheriff’s Dept. report concludes Jenner violated the misdemeanor manslaughter law by driving at an unsafe speed. Jenner’s SUV slammed into a Lexus that had been stopped in traffic, sending the car into oncoming traffic and killing the driver.
    The Sheriff’s Dept. will submit its report to the L.A. County D.A. next Wednesday and prosecutors will then decide whether to file charges.

    “Law enforcement sources have told us for months … there’s a 50/50 chance charges will be filed. Some of our sources doubt she’ll be prosecuted, saying Jenner’s conduct was no different than that other drivers who are inattentive and rear end another car … the only difference is in Jenner’s case, the positioning of the cars sent the Lexus into a fatal trajectory.

    “As one law enforcement source put it … Jenner’s state of mind was the same as other drivers who screw up and rear end someone, and you prosecute people for their state of mind, not bad luck.”

    From TMZ

  11. MonicaQ says:

    If it was my family member that was killed, a lot of rational thought would go out the window. I’d want blood. It’s not right (I’ll admit to my failings), I’d probably come to my senses at some point, but I’d want to go on a systematic warpath much like General Sherman during the Civil War to start with.

    She won’t get jail time. She’s a star. It’s a negligence. She’ll lose her license briefly, pay a fine that is minuscule to her, and more on with her life. Maybe the civil suit will cause some damage but if I were in her shoes, I don’t think I could sleep at night. All I could think was “I killed someone”. Hell, I freak when I almost hit people in the crosswalk and don’t sleep for at least a *week*.

  12. meme says:

    Caitlyn is just as vapid, selfish and self-absorbed as Bruce. I can’t stand her.

  13. suzanne says:

    Misdemeanor Manslaughter: kind of like jumbo shrimp.

    • Citresse says:

      When I first heard it, I thought the evidence was texting while driving. I guess that’s been ruled out?

  14. Nancy says:

    This story played out. The people after him are the deceased woman’s distant family. This is totally a money move on a rich person. Oh gosh, I know Caitlyn did what she felt she had to do by transitioning but she looks so uncomfortable as a woman. I think it may be because Bruce waited till his mid 60’s to make the change. God Bless him and anyone who feels the pain of not being their true self. And shame on grave robbers going after money that they have no right to. Where were these people when this lady was alive.

    • me says:

      are you serious right know ? someone lost his life and others are injured, i don’t give a f about her transition she could a least give a dam about that and show remorse instead of parading herself as if nothing happened, what if it was one of your relative that died in that accident ? we are going to excuse everything because she is living her true self ?

      • Nancy says:

        Bruce addressed the accident when it happened. He released a statement and was obviously devastated at the loss of life. It is a true statement that the victim in the accident was not close to the parties trying to make money off of her death. No winners here. Caitlyn’s transgendering was my comment on her appearance not the accident.

  15. Citresse says:

    Wow, Jenner’s transition appears to be going well. I mean, in the top photo she’s even got what seems to be the classic female abdominal bloat. Well done!

  16. Imo says:

    In some states tailgating = aggressive driving = ticket.
    Idk about the charges but I do wish Bruce had kept a more reverential profile immediately afterwards.

  17. India says:

    I find it revolting that Caitlyn is spouting off about her grand, brave transformation ad nauseum while a poor innocent woman was killed by her. Disgusting.

    • wow says:

      Exactly. And I put nothing past CA cops, or any cops, including covering for the rich.

      Bruce’s attitude towards this accident and relatives of the lady is flippant. We know he won’t do any time in jail. He’ll stroll in like Lindsay and strut out like Paris did before him. Disgusting. If the same thing happened to one of his daughters and they were killed, I’m pretty sure the cops would find some harsher charge to put that person behind bars for years. After all we’ve seen them kill innocent people for much less.

    • Citresse says:

      India
      /sarc I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s some very cold people in the world, unfortunately.

  18. Skins says:

    Ewwwwwww!