INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Caitlyn Jenner Will Be Sued For Her Role In Fatal Car Crash, Criminal Charges Unlikely

By Aaron Homer
Published on: 09:40 PST, Aug 28, 2015

Caitlyn Jenner will likely be sued by five victims of a fatal car crash that killed a 69-year-old woman in February, MSN is reporting.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, in February, Jenner — who at the time still went by “Bruce” and had not yet transitioned to “Caitlyn” — was involved in a fatal car crash along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. Jenner’s Escalade slammed into the rear of a Lexus driven by 69-year-old Kim Howe. The impact pushed Howe’s vehicle into the oncoming lanes of traffic, where it was struck by a Hummer with five occupants inside. Other vehicles were also involved in what would become a multi-car pileup.

All in all, eight people would be injured in the crash, and one person killed. Jenner was not among the injured.

An investigation by L.A. authorities would determine that Jenner was “inattentive” at the time of the crash, according to the New York Daily News, but was not intoxicated, texting, or otherwise doing anything that would make the crash a felony matter.

Since the crash, lawsuits have started flying. Howe’s stepchildren have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jenner, according to the Daily Mail, although Jenner is trying to have that case dismissed on the grounds that Howe’s stepchildren barely knew her and didn’t depend on her financially; another woman involved in the pileup, Jessica Steindorff, filed suit against Jenner in June, according to CNN. It’s unclear, as of this post, what kinds of damages either suit seeks against Jenner.

The latest two lawsuits resulting from the February crash have come from the occupants of the Hummer. On Thursday, they filed an $18.5 million lawsuit against Howe’s estate, claiming that Howe was also negligent in the crash. Those survivors also intend to sue Jenner for the same amount.

TMZ opines that Jenner will almost certainly be found negligent in a civil suit, but the plaintiffs may be asking for a little much.

“The fact that she struck the Lexus from behind creates an open-and-shut case for negligence, but the amount of damages the Hummer occupants want is stunning.”

One thing that remains up in the air is whether or not Jenner will face criminal charges. Although felony charges have been ruled out, misdemeanor charges could still be forthcoming, although the Daily Mail, citing unnamed sources, states that such charges are “unlikely.”

However, if criminal charges are filed against Caitlyn Jenner, she could face up to a year in jail.

[Image courtesy of: Getty Images/Kevin Winter]

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