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5 Deaths Caused by Celebrity Car Accidents

By Ephrat Livni, Esq. on October 13, 2015 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The rich and famous are just like us. They too make mistakes. But do they face the same consequences for their actions as other folks?

Decide for yourself. Take a look at this list of deaths caused by celebrity driving accidents and the accompanying punishments, if any, below. Keep in mind that in some cases where criminal charges were not filed, stars still faced civil lawsuits for victims' wrongful deaths (yes, that includes Caitlyn Jenner).

Five Celebrities, Six Deaths

1. Motley Crue's Vince Neil. In 1984, Motley Crue lead Vince Neil killed his colleague Nicholas "Razzle" Dingey and caused brain damage in two people whose car he hit after a day of playing music and drinking. Neil's blood alcohol content registered at .17, which is far above the .08 level that most states consider the legal limit. He served 15 days in jail.

2. Matthew Broderick. In 1987, Ferris Bueller's Day Off star Matthew Broderick killed a mother and daughter while he was driving on the wrong side of the road in a rented car in Ireland. He faced five years in prison but ended paying only a $175 fine. In the car with him was his then-girlfriend, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, who suffered whiplash. Broderick fractured his ribs and legs. The couple broke up shortly after the accident.

3. Brandy Norwood. In 2006, Brandy Norwood of the television show Moesha struck another vehicle on a fareway and killed another woman, a mother of two. There was no evidence that Norwood was drunk or intoxicated, using a cell phone, or otherwise distracted. In 2007, prosecutors decided not to file charges against her and in 2009 she settled a civil suit with the victim's husband.

4. Lane Garrison. In 2007, Prison Break actor Lane Garrison served a 22-month sentence for killing a passenger in his car while driving drunk and on cocaine. Garrisson has not been shy about admitting wrongdoing. "[That night] was a night of bad decisions. I had two drinks, downed two shots ... bottom line, I should've never been at that party; I should've never had drinks in my system; I should've never drove. The message is simple here -- with drinking and driving, most people don't have an intent to hurt somebody, but it happens and it can happen to anybody."

5. Melrose Place's Amy Locane. In 2012, Amy Locane of Melrose Place was convicted of vehicular homicide after driving drunk and plowing into a female pedestrian. She served a three year prison sentence and was released this year but the prosecution is apparently still seeking a longer sentence on appeal and Locane is looking to have her conviction reversed.

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