Former NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife were killed in a car accident Wednesday in California, TMZ reports.
Butler, 38, reportedly lost control of his Range Rover early Wednesday morning in Studio City, hit a parking meter and flipped the car, killing himself and wife, Leah LaBelle.
The car crashed into a shopping plaza in Studio City, according to the Los Angeles Police Department North Hollywood division. Police received a call at about 2:30 a.m. of a car into a building on the 11000 block of Ventura Boulevard. The vehicle was traveling at speeds two to three times higher than the limit, according to police.
Butler played 14 seasons with eight different teams, including a brief stint with the Bulls in 2010-11. He averaged 7.6 points per game during his career. He retired in 2016.
Belle, 31, was an R&B and hip-hop artist with Epic Records. She appeared on “American Idol” in 2004.
Reaction poured in on social media over the shocking news.
R.I.P to Rasual Butler man, he was good to me and kept it G with me during our time in Minnesota! We lost a good one!!
— Kris Dunn (@KrisDunn3) January 31, 2018
Omg..... RIP Rasual Butler :(( terrible News 😢
— Marcin Gortat🇵🇱 (@MGortat) January 31, 2018
So sad this morning to here about my friend and teammate 😢 RIP Rasual Butler appreciate the people around u because u never kno 😔😔😔
— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) January 31, 2018
The NBPA family is deeply saddened by the passing of our brother, Rasual Butler. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Butler family. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dNgGGmIpuq
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) January 31, 2018
Follow me on Twitter @DanCahill_CST