Source: Paul Zimmerman / Getty
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Former NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife were killed in a solo-vehicle, high-speed crash in a Los Angeles neighborhood early Wednesday morning, officials said.
The couple was in a newer-model Range Rover when it crashed at about 2:25 a.m. The SUV was on Ventura Boulevard when the vehicle lost control, hit multiple parking meters, slammed into a wall, overturned and ended up in a parking lot, authorities said.
Video from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of the Range Rover in the parking lot of a strip mall containing a Marshall’s, a Michaels and other stores.
Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Andy Neiman said.
The L.A. County coroner’s office identified Butler, but did not release the name of the woman killed in the crash. She was later identified as Leah LaBelle by the Clippers, which released a statement in the wake of Butler’s death.
“The L.A. Clippers are deeply saddened by the loss of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle,” the statement read. “Rasual will long be remembered not only for his accomplishments on the court, but for his vibrant personality, positive outlook and the compassion he had for everyone around him.”
Butler, who was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2002, played for several NBA teams during his lengthy professional basketball career, including the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, and San Antonio Spurs. He last played in the league in 2016.
It was unclear if Butler was behind the wheel or a passenger in the Range Rover.
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Article Courtesy of WJW Fox 8 News Cleveland
First Picture Courtesy of Streeter Lecka and Getty Images
Second Picture Courtesy of Paul Zimmerman and Getty Images
Former NBA Player Rasual Butler and His Wife Dies in Vehicle Accident was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
