Officials Want Brandy Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter
Monday - January 29, 2007
Info provided by Kevin R. Scott
www.sohh.com

California law enforcement officials are recommending that R&B singer Brandy be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for the fatal car accident she was involved in late last year.

According to Nick Velasquez, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, the case has been turned over to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office for review. Brandy, 27,(born Brandy Norwood), was driving her Land Rover on Interstate 405 on Dec. 30, 2006 when traffic slowed and her vehicle struck the back of a Honda driven by Awatef Aboudihaj, mother of one.

Aboudihaj's car hit another vehicle, which slid sideways into the center divider and was then hit by another car, the police report said. Aboudihaj died at a hospital from blunt-force injuries, according to the coroner's office.

News of Brandy's involvement became public after an unidentified eyewitness reported details of accident to TMZ.com.

"She got upset, talking about how it was all her fault ... she didn't stop, kept saying how she hit the lady," the witness said.

"Brandy walked in front of traffic, crossing the lanes of speeding cars, then she did it again," he told TMZ. "People were honking at her to get out of the road. She was obviously disoriented and highly upset."

Brandy has since issued public condolences to the victim's family and requested privacy via her publicist.

Word IZ