2007 isn't starting out very well for Brandy Norwood. The multi-platinum recording artist was recently found at fault in a car crash that resulted in a fatality. With a 50 million dollar lawsuit filed against her by the victim's family, criminal charges looming over her head, and the guilt that comes with knowing you were responsible for the untimely death of someone else, poor Brandy is having a pretty rough time.
A quick rewind to recap the events. On Dec. 30, Brandy was driving her Land Rover on the 405 in LA. If your familiar with LA you know their freeway system is frightful. Everyone drives 80 miles per hour and the result is multiple hapless accidents. The movie Crash capitalized on this concept and developed a story around it. Anyhow, for whatever reason, Brandy failed to notice the bottleneck of cars that had slowed down and crashed into a Honda, driven by Awatef Aboudihaj, a 38 year old waitress/wife/mother. The impact of Brandy's car caused Awatef to hit the car in front of hers, then slide sideways onto the divider where she was hit by another car. Awatef died at the hospital from blunt-force injuries, according to the coroners office.
TMZ.com interviewed a man that claimed he was in the car behind Brandy's at the time of the accident. The witness said at the scene, Brandy was visibly hysterical and insistent that she was at fault.
Brandy's publicist, Courtney Barnes said the singer wasn't under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.
Now, after a full investigation, it's the CA CHP's recommendation that Brandy be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail and a $1000.00 fine. Prosecutors couldn't say when they would make a decision to file charges. If charged, Brandy wouldn't necessarily have to appear in court, and could enter a plea through her attorney.
Civil Rights leaders are coming out to support the artist, alleging that the CHP and DA wouldn't have made such a big deal out of this incident had it involved a less high profile person. Their decision to speak up lacks some sensitivity toward the victim's family, however, they aren't completely wrong about the attention this accident is grabbing. I am unsure what the statistics are for accidents on the 405 but I wouldn't be surprised if they were above the national average, yet every fatal accident on that highway isn't national news.
And now the victim's parents are making a statement of their own. They filed a 50 million dollar lawsuit against the R&B singer for compensatory and punitive damages, citing, "Defendant Brandy Norwood was driving recklessly on the freeway." Some might question the timing of this lawsuit. Their daughter's corpse isn't even cold and already they are looking to prosper? If it were my child, I'd still be in shock. However, I won't stand in judgement of them and I'd never want to be where they are right now.
Brandy isn't the first celebrity to kill someone in a car accident. Just last month, Prison Break star Lane Garrison was found at fault in an accident where his SUV jumped the curb, killed a 17 year old boy, and injured two 15 year old girls, one of them seriously. Witnesses at the hospital say Lane had alcohol on his breath. In 2001, actress Rebecca Gayheart struck and killed a 9-year-old boy. She pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges and was given three years' probation, a suspended license, a $2,800 fine, and 750 hours of community service. In 1987, Matthew Broderick was involved in a head on collision on a country road in Ireland. The crash killed two Irish women. Broderick pleaded guilty to a reckless driving charge and was fined $175.
Brandy was driving 65mph when she crashed into the car in front of her. I drive 65mph all the time (usually with the flow of traffic). Brandy had to be preoccupied when she hit the car in front of her. Some are speculating she was on her cell phone. Perhaps she just turned her head for a moment to change the song on her ipod. Who knows? We are all guilty of becoming preoccupied while at the wheel. Still, that doesn't make it right. Sadly, her behavior was irresponsible and someone died as a result. We can all take heed.
