Former NBA Player Rasual Butler And Singer Leah LaBelle Die In LA Car Crash

Former NBA player Rasual Butler, 38, of the Indiana Pacers and singer, Leah LaBelle Vladowski, 31, were killed in a car accident last week in Los Angeles. According to Time Magazine, the single-vehicle accident occurred in Studio City around 2:30 AM.

Butler was reportedly driving a Range Rover over the speed limit when he lost control of the vehicle and hit a parking meter. The vehicle then flipped over before crashing into both a wall and a light post in a shopping plaza on Ventura Boulevard.

Butler was a well-reputed NBA player with a long career. First drafted by the Miami Heat in 2002, Butler played for eight NBA teams throughout his life including the Hornets, Clippers, Bulls, Raptors, Pacers, Wizards, and Spurs.

“Our entire organization is deeply saddened after learning of the death of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle,” said Pacers president Kevin Pritchard. “In his one season with us, Rasual was the consummate team player and a great role model for our younger players on how a professional should prepare and act, while being a positive influence on everyone associated with him.”

LaBelle was a R&B singer signed to Epic Records. A third season finalist on the hit show American Idol in 2004, LaBelle released a five-track EP in 2012 in production with Pharrell Williams and Jermaine Dupri.

“Moments like these leave us with so many questions,” said Williams in an Instagram post. “What I don’t question is how much you loved God, how much you love your life partner and where you guys are now. Sing, Sis, sing.”

Butler and LaBella are the second sports couple to be in a fatal car accident in the last three months. Up to 52% of personal injury cases involve motor vehicle accidents and, in just November 2017, former NFL player Terry Glenn and his fiancée were also in a fatal car accident. Glenn, 43, died at the scene while his fiancée, Verina LeGrand, survived with minor injuries.

“We offer our sincerest condolences to [Butler] and [LaBelle’s] family,” said Pritchard in a statement. Funeral information for Butler and LaBelle has yet to be released.