Many famous people have been involved in accidents that resulted in deaths, while others were guilty of cold-blooded murder. There are war heroes and those who served prison time, while others have gotten away with murder.
Check out this list of stars who have, in one way or the other, ended the life of someone. Tinseltown’s bright lights often hide dark corners.
Henry Ruggs
It was on Nov. 3, 2021 when Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III slammed into the rear of another car.
He was driving at 156 mph with his blood-alcohol content twice Nevada’s legal limit.
“The front of Ruggs’s Corvette collided with the rear of a Toyota Rav4. The Toyota became engulfed in flames, and a “deceased victim” was found inside the Toyota,” the police statement said.
Las Vegas police charged Ruggs with DUI resulting in death.
According to Nevada law, DUI resulting in death is a Class B felony. Punishments include 2 to 20 years in prison.
Venus Williams
Tennis star Venus Williams was involved a car accident in June 2017. An accident which left one man dead.
Williams was driving in Palm Beach Garden, FL, when she sped into an intersection, though she did not have the right of way.
The athlete was T-boned by the car.
The car’s driver survived, but her 78-year-old husband was sent to the ICU and died two weeks later.
Caitlyn Jenner
Jenner was involved in a deadly car accident on the Malibu stretch of PCH back in February 2015.
Eyewitnesses said that Jenner’s SUV rear-ended a white car, sending it into oncoming traffic before getting struck by a Hummer.
The driver was killed while seven others were injured. Jenner was not hurt.
Police say that Jenner voluntarily submitted for a blood alcohol test. They also said Jenner was not speeding.
After passing a field sobriety test, Jenner claimed that paparazzi was chasing her, but police did not believe the story.
Jenner released a statement saying, “My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident. It is a devastating tragedy, and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them. I will continue to cooperate in every way possible.”
Laura Bush
Laura Bush was in high school when she failed to stop at a stop sign when she was driving.
She collided with a car and killed its driver, Mike Douglas, a close friend and classmate of hers.
Matthew Broderick
In 1987, Broderick and his then-girlfriend, co-star Jennifer Grey, were on vacation in Ireland when he drove the wrong way on a street and crashed into an oncoming vehicle.
The driver and passenger in the other car both died from their injuries as a result.
Ted Kennedy
In 1969, Kennedy drove off a bridge on Chappaquiddick, an island found near Martha’s Vineyard.
The car plunged into the water,but Kennedy swam free, though his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, drowned.
Kennedy fled the scene, waiting nine hours to report the incident.
Then he later plead guilty for leaving the scene.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust.
The incident happened in New Mexico on October 21, 2021 and even Director Joel Souza was wounded.
Authorities with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident, trying to determine “what type of projectile was discharged.”
No charges have been made, and Baldwin, both a star and producer of the film, cooperated with authorities.
Baldwin released a statement:
“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
James Stewart
Stewart was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force Reserve in World War II where he took part in several bombings that resulted in the deaths of enemy soldiers and civilians.
The actor received numerous honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak leaf cluster and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg along with his bodyguard were charged with the murder of a rival gang member.
The rapper was defended by Johnnie Cochran and was eventually acquitted after years of trials in court.
Sid Vicious
Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious stabbed Nancy Spungen, his girlfriend, in 1978.
When questioned, Vicious says he found Spungen dead on the bathroom floor of their hotel room.
He later admitted that he stabbed her, but had no intentions of killing her.
The bassist was charged with her murder, but Vicious never stood trial, instead dying of a drug overdose while out on bail.
Brandy Norwood
Singer and “America’s Got Talent” judge Brandy Norwood was involved in a freeway pile-up in 2006.
The incident caused the death of Awatef Aboudihaj.
Aboudihaj struck the vehicle in front of her before Brandy collided with Aboudihaj’s rear bumper.
The singer accepted the responsibility for the accident.
Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman
Jerry Oliver was shot by one of Dog the Bounty Hunter’s friends in 1976 when they were buying marijuana from him.
Dog was waiting in the car but he was still convicted of first degree murder.
He ended up serving 18 months of a five-year sentence.
Vince Neil
Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil was part of a drunk driving accident in 1984.
His passenger, Nicholas “Razzle” Dingley, was killed while two individuals in the other car suffered brain damage.
Neil was legally drunk at the time so he was never sent to prison.
Johnny Lewis
“Sons of Anarchy” actor Johnny Lewis broke into the home of 81 year-old Catherine David in 2012.
He ransacked her home, then killed her before falling (or jumping) from a roof and dying.
Lewis was born into a Scientologist family, working for the church’s drug rehab group Narconon.
Despite a history of drug use, an autopsy report showed that the actor had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Phil Spector
Lana Clarkson was found dead in Spector’s home in 2003.
He was charged with the murder, and was found guilty in 2009.
Spector was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.
Oscar Pistorius
In 2015, Pistorius was convicted for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Three shots were fired through a locked bathroom door, but the four-time Paralympics gold medal runner and double amputee claimed he was firing at an intruder.
Dwayne Goodrich
Goodrich was a former Dallas Cowboys cornerback who was convicted of two counts of criminally negligent homicide in 2003.
He was driving on a Dallas freeway when he struck and killed two motorists on the side of the road.
They were trying to rescue a man from a burning car.
Goodrich was sentenced to seven years in prison, receiving five more later.
Oliver Stone
Director Oliver Stone enlisted for military service during the Vietnam War and like most young soldiers, requested combat duty.
He killed enemy soldiers with a grenade and was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for his heroism in ground combat.
Stone also won a Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf cluster.
Jayson Williams
Former NBA player Jayson Williams accidentally shot his limousine driver in 2002 as he was playing with a shotgun.
Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, spending 2 years in prison.
Lane Garrison
Garrison pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in 2007 when he was involved in a drunk driving accident that took the life of his passenger.
He had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit, with cocaine in his system.
Amy Locane
“Melrose Place” actress Amy Locane hit another car while driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit.
The accident killed 60 year-old Helene Seeman and injured her husband, Fred.
She was convicted of vehicular homicide and given 2.5 years in prison, but the victims’ family appealed the ruling.
J.R. Smith
NBA player J.R. Smith drove through a stop sign in 2007.
It was an accident that killed the passenger in his vehicle.
Smith pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, so he was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
He only served 30.
Christian Brando
Christian Brando is the son of Marlon Brando.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter after shooting the boyfriend of his half-sister Cheyenne, Dag Drollet.
Brando says that the shooting was accidental, but he also said that it happened during a confrontation when Cheyenne claimed that Drollet was abusing her.
Brando was charged with first-degree murder, resulting to five years in prison.
Cheyenne Brando gave birth to Drollet’s son, Tuki Brando just a month after his death.
In 1995, she hanged herself.
Michael Jace
In May 2014, Jace was arrested in Los Angeles after the fatal shooting of his wife, April Jace.
It happened in front of their two children.
Neighbors called 911 after hearing gunshots, though Michael also called 911 to report the murder.
Jace said he was upset with his wife and believed she was cheating on him.
He pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was only trying to shoot her in the leg to cause pain.
Despite his claims, Jace was convicted of second-degree murder in 2016 by a jury.
Fatty Arbuckle
Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was charged with manslaughter when Virginia Rappe died after he allegedly raped her.
Rappe was very ill in Arbuckle’s hotel room after drinking bootleg alcohol, and she died of a ruptured bladder soon after.
A friend of Rappe’s told police Arbuckle raped her, and police concluded that the actor’s weight was what caused the distress to her organs.
Arbuckle had two highly publicized trials before being cleared of all charges at the third trial.
But his name was ruined, his films banned or destroyed, and was soon shunned in Hollywood for more than a decade.
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