Bruce Jenner breaks his silence about fatal car crash

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Police are now suggesting the vehicle to blame in the deadly Saturday car crash involving Bruce Jenner was the Toyota Prius at the head of the 4-car pileup, say reports
The Prius may have stopped suddenly, eventually causing Jenner's Escalade to smash into 69-year-old Kim Howe's white Lexus
Howe, a widow who is neighbors with Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, was killed in the crash
Police have opened a vehicular manslaughter investigation that could bring up to six years in prison if any driver is found criminally negligent in the fatal crash
Jenner was spotted back behind the wheel and again driving down the Pacific Coast Hightway in his Porsche 911 GT3
Jenner's reps on Sunday flat out denied the 65-year-old was texting behind the wheel during the crash
Jenner, who is reportedly undergoing gender reassignment, is thought to have been uninjured in the crash
Officials now examining phone records of all four drivers to help determine circumstances surrounding crash

By James Robertson and Emma Glanfield for MailOnline and Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:26 EST, 8 February 2015 | Updated: 08:34 EST, 9 February 2015

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Bruce Jenner has spoken out about the fatal Malibu car crash in which he was involved on Saturday as police hint the reality star may not have been to blame.

Law enforcement officials are now pointing the finger at a Prius at the head of a pack of four cars that included Jenner's Cadillac Escalade, which they tell TMZ stopped abruptly on the busy Pacific Coast Highway, leading to the crash that left 69-year-old Kim Howe dead.

Jenner ended his silence, amid rumors he was texting while driving at the time of the crash, in a statement through a publicist Sunday. '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,' Jenner said.

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To blame? Police are now fingering the Prius that led the 4-car pileup in which Bruce Jenner smashed into a 69-year-old woman's car on the PCH Saturday as the culprit in the crash, according to TMZ

Impact: A sombre-looking Bruce Jenner surveys the crash scene and the damage to the cars which were involved in the horror smash

'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.'

Jenner is, at least in part, referring to the check police will likely run on his phone records to investigate whether he was texting at the wheel as his Cadillac Escalade plowed into the back of another vehicle, leaving its driver dead.

The Olympian's publicist denied on Sunday that Jenner was texting behind the wheel.

Jenner, 65, was also pictured with a cigarette in his hand moments before the four-car pile-up on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, on Saturday.

The revelations come as CNN reports police have opened a vehicular manslaughter investigation into the deadly crash. If one of the drivers involved is found liable - for reasons like intoxication or texting while driving - criminal charges could be filed that net up to six years in state prison. Detectives are reportedly investigating all drivers.

Just one day after the fatal crash, Jenner was back in the driver's seat and still puffing away as he zoomed down the Pacific Coast Highway on Sunday--this time behind the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3 RS, reports Page Six.

So far, there is no evidence to support Jenner's claim that he was being chased by paparazzi at the time of the crash.

The reality TV star and former Olympic competitor walked away unscathed from the collision, which left seven injured.

The identities of those involved in the horror crash have not yet been confirmed but MailOnline can exclusively reveal that the woman who died is believed to be 69-year-old Kim Howe, a friend of the Kardashian-Jenner family.

Police are checking Bruce Jenner's phone records amid claims he was texting at the wheel as his Cadillac Escalade ploughed into the back of another vehicle, leaving its driver dead

Smoking at the wheel: Bruce Jenner was pictured holding a cigarette out the window of his Cadillac Escalade on Saturday before the crash

Moments before: Here, a zoomed-out version of the image shows Jenner's SUV before it sustained dents to the bonnet in the crash

Kendall (far right) and Kylie (not pictured) partied with Kanye West, J-Lo, Justin Bieber and Big Sean on Saturday night - just hours after their father's harrowing car crash

Kendall and Kylie (right, second from right) were on the partying circuit again on Sunday for the Grammys - with big half-sister Khloe

Ms Howe, a widow, has not yet been formally identified, but has been named locally.

She is believed to be neighbors with the Kardashians and lives in the same Calabasas hideaway as Kourtney, Robert and Khloe Kardashian, which is guarded by security at the road entrance.

Photographs show the moment her car was rear-ended by Jenner's black Cadillac Escalade, which was towing a dune buggy at the time of the crash.

Investigators are now trying to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash and plan to look at the mobile phone records of all four drivers and check for any video evidence, Sheriff Commander Michael Parker said.

Their investigations will determine if Jenner, or any of the other three drivers involved in the collision, were texting or on their mobile phones at the time of the collision.

They will also investigate whether Bruce Jenner was smoking.

Smoking while driving has been condemned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and numerous legal practices in California treat smoking as a significant factor in car accidents, though it is not illegal.

Lead up: Bruce Jenner can be seen in his Cadillac Escalade, towing a dune buggy, just seconds prior to the crash which killed one woman - believed to be 69-year-old Kim Howe who was a neighbour of the Kardashians and lived in the same community as Khloe, Kourtney and Rob

Impact: Jenner's vehicle can be seen colliding with the white Lexus, which is thought to have been being driven by Ms Howe, a widow

Crash: Dramatic photos show the moment Jenner collided with the white Lexus, causing the bonnet and rear of the car to crumple

Horror crash: The woman who died in the four-car crash, which involved former Olympian Bruce Jenner 65, is believed to be 69-year-old Kim Howe - a widow who owns several properties in Los Angeles and is a neighbour of Kourtney, Khloe and Robert Kardashian in Calabasas

Smash: Ms Howe was reportedly driving a white Lexus (centre) when the crash occurred on the the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu

Aftermath: Officials work at the scene following the deadly crash which involved four cars, including Jenner's black Cadillac Escalade

Fatality: LA coroners take away the body of the woman who was killed in the crash. She is believed to be 69-year-old Kim Howe from LA

Tragic: Officials said a Prius was hit by a white Lexus, driven by Ms Howe, which was then rear-ended by Bruce Jenner's Cadillac Escalade

Crash scene: The Olympic gold medalist escaped the crash unscathed and could be seen co-operating with officials in the wake of collision

Surveying the scene: A sombre-looking Jenner, 65, is seen getting out of his car and looking at the crumpled Lexus where it came to a halt

Tested: Jenner, who was involved in the fatal crash on the Pacific Coast Highway, is seen above taking a sobriety test in front of officers

He told CNN: 'As of right now, there is no indication that Bruce Jenner was being chased by paparazzi at the time of the crash.

'There was a possibility that paparazzi was following him at the time of the crash, but that is a very regular occurrence, and (there is) no indication at this time it was a contributing factor of the crash.'

Photographs showing the crash impact appear to show Jenner, who is dressed in a blue jumper with dark sunglasses on, with his left arm raised while behind the wheel.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department will get a search warrant for both Jenner's phone records and the cellphone itself,TMZ reported today. It is illegal to text while driving in California.

It is thought Jenner smashed his Cadillac Escalade into the back of the victim's white Lexus, which was then pushed into the path of a Hummer, leaving the vehicle a crumpled wreck and the sole occupant dead.

Five children - and two adults - were also hospitalised in the fatal smash which occurred just after midday on Saturday.

The Olympic gold medalist and Kardashian family patriarch took a roadside sobriety test in front of officers in the wake of the horrific collision, which he passed, while his son Brody rushed to comfort him at the scene.

Today it emerged that the crash victim - believed to be Ms Howe - lives in the same gated community in Calabasas as Kourtney, Robert and Khloe Kardashian.

Jenner's step-daughter Khloe bought her sprawling mansion on Prado Del Grandioso from pop singer Justin Bieber in March 2014.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shares the six-bedroom, seven-bathroom 9,214 square foot property with her brother Rob, who has his own private wing away from the main house.

Widowed Ms Howe, whose Calabasas house on Prado De La Mariposa is valued at $4,800,000, owns a number of properties including one in Malibu that faces onto the Pacific Ocean, though neighbours say the place has been left abandoned for three years because of a mold problem.

It is more than likely their paths would have crossed in the private estate where Khloe's sister Kourtney also resides with her partner Scott Disick and their three children Mason, Penelope and Reign.

It's currently unknown what Ms Howe was doing in Malibu on Saturday when the tragic crash happened.

Sheriff's officials say the deadly pile-up happened after a Prius came to a stop in the northbound lanes on the PCH, a notoriously busy road, for unknown reasons.

It is said the Prius was hit by a white Lexus, driven by Ms Howe, which was then rear-ended by Jenner's Cadillac Escalade.

Bruce Jenner at the scene of horror four-car pile-up in Malibu

Test: The star was given a sobriety test at the roadside as emergency personnel crowded around the damaged cars. He passed the test

Holding steady: Jenner walked in a straight line at the instruction of officers. The Lexus in front of him was reportedly slowing down at the time

Cargo: Jenner's Cadillac was towing an off-road vehicle when the crash on occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway on Saturday afternoon

Head down: The Kardashian family patriarch was towing a dune buggy at the time of the crash. His son Brody rushed to comfort him

Helping: Jenner could be seen co-operating with officials at the scene and appeared concerned following the four-car smash

Damage: Jenner is pictured above walking down the highway next to his smashed-up Cadillac, in this image by Twitter user Melissa Cardenas

Watching: Jenner could later be seen watching officials carry out their investigations as he patiently waited to remove his car from the scene

Taken away: Jenner eventually climbed into a patrol car and was driven away from the scene in Malibu, California

In the back: Jenner turned his head away as he was taken from the scene, where officials are investigating the cause of the collision

Taken away: Jenner is pictured above in a Sheriff's Department car being driven from the scene. His damaged car was left to be recovered

Wounded: A woman is handed her young child after being involved in the fatal collision. The baby is believed to be just one month old

Reunited: The woman holds her baby as paramedics strap her onto a stretcher following the crash in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon

Closed: The road was closed for more than eight hours following the crash, while officials tried to establish the cause of the horror smash

Highway: The four-vehicle collision occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, a coastal road overlooking the Pacific Ocean

Bruce Jenner involved in crash which left one woman dead

The impact of the crash forced the Lexus into oncoming southbound traffic where it then collided head-on with a Hummer.

LA County Sheriff's department officials confirmed that the crash took place at 12:12pm near the exit to the Corral Canyon park.

Two children and a baby traveling in the Hummer were taken to Santa Monica hospital as a precaution but did not appear to be injured.

Photos from the immediate aftermath proved to be a chilling sight as a clearly shaken Jenner stands near wreckage of the crushed vehicle.

Jenner's publicist confirmed that he hadn't been hurt in the crash and he was pictured at the scene sitting in his vehicle and walking around on the road. He was later pictured being driven from the scene by sheriff's deputies.

The highway was closed for nearly nine hours following the midday accident. It was later the scene of another collision after a driver apparently ignored the road closure tape and drove through police barricades.

According to KTLA, the driver crashed through the barricades after hurtling passed a patrol car with flashing red lights and slammed into the two wrecked cars which were being examined for evidence at around 6.30pm.

There were no reports of any injuries and the driver was handcuffed after getting out of his car and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Jenner told cops he was being pursued by paparazzi in the moments leading to the original crash, however a sergeant disputed the claims.

Sergeant Philip Books said: 'That wouldn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's always possible. We can't confirm that.'

Jenner passed a field sobriety test and voluntarily went to a nearby hospital to provide a blood sample.

'He is not under and investigation right now as far as driving while intoxicated,' the sergeant added.

Hit: This Hummer collided with the white Lexus, which was driven by Ms Howe, police said. Several of its passengers were injured in the crash

Damage: The white Lexus is believed to have collided with a Prius before being hit from behind and knocked into the path of oncoming traffic

Debris: The cars were left severely damaged following the crash, with bits and pieces from the vehicles left sprawled out across the highway

Beaten up: Jenner's Cadillac Escalade (above) was damage by the collision - though Jenner (seen above at the wheel) was unharmed

Trailer: Jenner was towing a dune buggy behind his black Cadillac Escalade at the time of the crash. Officials are establishing the cause

Overview: An aerial view of the crash scene on Saturday shows the damaged cars, and police markings as they work to establish the cause

Disruption: The road was closed for at least eight hours after the smash, which hospitalised at least five children and two adults

Closed: The Pacific Coast Highway was shut down by the collision. Jenner reportedly said he was being chased by photographers just before

Olympian: Bruce Jenner is a famed athlete. He is pictured above with his Olympic gold medal for the Decathlon in the 1976 Montreal games

On the scene: Bruce Jenner could be seen sitting in his car looking at the aftermath of the crash while officials dealt with their investigation

Family: Brody Jenner - Jenner's son - was seen climbing into his car shortly after news of the crash. He later consoled his father at the scene

Support: Brody Jenner (pictured above with girlfriend Kaitlynn Carter) drove to the scene of the crash to support his shaken-up father

Bruce Jenner's daughter Kendall, a fashion model, (left in the car and right) is spotted using a blue sweater to hide her face the day after the crash. Kendall and Kylie were seen living it up alongside Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez on Saturday night at a Big Sean concert in West Hollywood

Crash scene: Crowds gathered at the site of the collision on Saturday afternoon, with several people taking to Twitter to share the news

Jenner has been living in a Malibu beach house since separating from Kris Jenner, mother to Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob Kardashian, as well as Kylie and Kendall Jenner.

The shocking incident comes amid speculation surrounding Jenner's much-discussed private life following reports from close friends and family confirming that he is transitioning into a woman.

An anonymous source told People magazine: 'He is finally happy and his family is accepting of what he's doing. He's in such a great space. That's why it's the perfect time to do something like this.'

There is speculation that Jenner is preparing to give a tell-all interview discussing the process as well as plans to make a documentary as he prepares to go public.

Three-times married Jenner has been given the approval of his family including his 88-year-old mother Esther Jenner's support.

She said: 'I have never been more proud of Bruce for who he is, himself as a father, as an Olympian, a wonderful public speaker.'