Former NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife, American Idol alum Leah LaBelle, both died in a car accident early Wednesday, January 31, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has confirmed. Butler was 38. LaBelle was 31.
TMZ reported that the former Miami Heat player lost control of his Range Rover at around 2 a.m. in Studio City, California, and then hit parking meters before the vehicle crashed into a wall. The car reportedly also flipped over.
Butler was first drafted by the Heat in 2002 and went on to play for the New Orleans Hornets, the L.A. Clippers, the Chicago Bulls, the Toronto Raptors, the Indiana Pacers, the Washington Wizards and the San Antonio Spurs during his 14-year NBA career. He is survived by daughter Raven Butler from a previous relationship. Belle, 31, came in 12th place during season 3 of American Idol in 2004 and was later signed to Epic Records.
