“I Am Cait” star Caitlyn Jenner won’t be charged with manslaughter or any crime in the February car crash that killed one person on the Pacific Coast Highway, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Sixty-five year old Kim Howe was killed when her Lexus was struck by a Hummer on Feb. 7.
Footage of the collision was released in July, and appeared to show Jenner’s Cadillac Escalade hitting Howe’s Lexus as well as a Prius driven by Jessica Steindorff. Howe’s vehicle crossed into opposing traffic, where it collided with a Hummer.
Jenner, who was not injured, passed a field sobriety test and provided a blood sample for drug and alcohol testing.
The former Olympian, who came out as a transgender woman earlier this year in an emotional interview with Diane Sawyer, maintained she was not driving recklessly, and cited the trailer she was towing as a factor in the crash.
After the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department completed its investigation, the case was referred the cast to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who have declined to press charges against Jenner.
While criminal charges are off the table, Jenner is still being sued by Howe’s stepchildren, who allege that Jenner was “careless and negligent” in the crash. Their suit alleges that Jenner’s vehicle hit Howe’s car, pushing it into oncoming traffic. According to the suit, Howe’s death “caused plaintiffs to suffer enormous damages and losses.” Jenner is also being sued by Steindorff. Jeffrey Wolf, the attorney for Kim Howe’s stepdaughter has this response
Jeffrey Wolf, attorney for Kim Howe’s stepdaughter, issued a statement on Wednesday: “The DA’s decision not to pursue criminal charges places even more importance on our clients’ lawsuit. It is abundantly clear is that Ms. Jenner’s inattentive driving caused this rear-end collision that resulted in Ms. Howe’s death. Now, ultimately a jury trial in this civil case is the only way to hold Ms. Jenner accountable for causing Kim Howe’s death.”
Pamela Chelin contributed to this story.