Brandy escapes vehicular manslaughter charge

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles city attorney’s office said Friday it will not charge Brandy Norwood in a deadly December 2006 freeway crash.

Spokesman Nick Velasquez said there is “insufficient evidence” for a jury to find the 28-year-old actress-singer guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt.

The decision runs counter to a recommendation from the California Highway Patrol that Norwood be charged in the Dec. 30, 2006, crash.

Investigators ruled out alcohol and drugs as factors in the crash and say there was no evidence that Brandy, who was alone in her car, was using a cell phone or was otherwise distracted.

The former star of the television comedy "Moesha" was not hurt after her Land Rover struck 38-year-old Awatif Aboudihaj's car from behind. Reuters reported that Aboudihaj's car was then forced into the car in front of hers before swerving into the freeway's center divider. She was then broadsided by a fourth automobile.

However, a California Highway Patrol source told celebrity Web site TMZ.com that Aboudihaj actually struck the vehicle in front of hers and slammed on her breaks before Norwood made any contact.

According to Access Hollywood, Aboudihaj's parents filed a $50 million lawsuit against Norwood in January, claiming the singer "was driving recklessly in the freeway when her car collided with Awatif Aboudihaj's car." They are seeking both punitive and compensatory damages.

The Associated Press, Reuters, TMZ.com and Access Hollywood contributed to this report.

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